Starfox: Fall of Lylat

[Snys93]

This is a very short beginning part to a story I've been working on.
It contains no sexuality, some violence and mild swearing.

-

A twisted hulk drifted slowly among it's own scattered debris, wrapped in the cold, dark void of the endless vacuum. She was not a large vessel, but still had teeth to bear. Her starboard side was blistering with turrets that had shown signs of being fired and the carbon scaring upon her hull.

Her hull bared the call letters and registry of a Cornerian ship, CDF-D-132 Sunset Star.

Inside, the ships anti-gravity generator was off-line. Lose debris such broken glass, coffee cup and nudie mags from the head floated freely. Strangely, there were no bodies, not a sign at all of her crew.

Deeper inside the ship were the emergency cyo-tubes with one appearing to be active.

One occupant, one survivor.



'Cryo-malfunction. Disengaging primary feed.'

The cryo pod opened and out stumbled a uniformed figure. He seemed disoriented and prompty began vomiting on the deck.

"Uhg...Keltki? Gotalmit? Guys?" No one answered.

He stumbled to a lift nearby. It was off-line. As his sight returned to him, he saw the lights overhead flickering on and off and collapsed on the deck. He did not know what happened, but his nightmare was just beginning.

 

                                                                                              

[Snys93]

Cadet Agathol slowly drifted into consciousness. The echoes and groanings of the ship support structures. He stared into the lights overhead. They flickered and sparked in the air. The Cadet moved off of the floor to his feet, his head in his hands. Then he gazed about at the wrecked compartment.

'...the hell happened?' he thought.

He didn't try for the lift again, he remembered it didn't work. On the wall there was a comm panel. He wasted no time.

"Cryo-chamber to bridge," no answer. "Cryo-chamber to bridge, is anyone there?"

The Cadet toggled again, "Flight deck, do you read? Chief Desoto? Chief, are you there?"

He switched to shipwide comm, "Cadet Agathol, to crew, is anyone there? Is anyone there?"

'Where is everyone?' he asked himself. 'They couldn't just leave.'

Then he thought of something else. "Computer, tie in."

A female voice came on the speaker, "Tied in."

"Computer, where is the crew?"

"Unknown."

"Computer, how can you NOT know?"

"Major portions of my processing units have been damaged."

'Great,' he paused for a moment. "Report system and ship status."

"Life support on levels 2 through 8. Anti-gravity on decks 6, 7, 9 and 12. Engines are currently off-line. Jump drives currently off-line. Hull shows signs of major breaches on level 9, compartment delta, level 13, compartment Beta. Flight Deck has been decompressed. Energy reserve has been depleted. Operational status of entire vessel: 5.4%..."

It was clear his ship was trashed, the crew members gone and stuck here alone in God knows where.

The computer continued to readout.

"...recommend you wait for extraction. Sending distress beacon. Mayday, Mayday, CDF-D-132 Sunset Star requesting EVAC..."

The days were long and blended into each other

"Mayday, Mayday, CDF-D-132 Sunset Star requesting EVAC. 125 days adrift, location unknown, cause of wreck unknown..."

Day in, day out.

"...CDF-D-132 Sunset Star requesting EVAC. 243 days adrift..."

Months go by...

"...requesting EVAC. 356 days adrift..."

The years...

"...589 days adrift..."

In the end...

"...1056 days..."

Its just a number.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

"...CDF-D-132 Sunset Star..."

Every time he heard that, it seemed to make less and less sense.

"...2545 days adrift..."

Some days he could just tone it out. Fortunately this was one of those days.

Being alone wasn't easy, but Chisteran Agathol made good use of his time. He restored a few of the ship systems making most of the ship more habitual than the cryo-chamber. Chis had access to most of the crippled DE (Destroyer Escort), except the weapons locker, the flight deck and hanger bay. He gathered what other items he needed from the vacant officers quarters, such as deodorant, tooth paste, etc.

When he wasn't trying to repair the computer and access the flight log, Chis read aloud a book to himself. The other Cadets never understood why he brought those ancient textiles with him everywhere, his only answer was that it reminded him of home. It reminded of his childhood back in Corneria City.

Books. Just the smell of a dusty old book was enough to send him back to those memories. His father and mother owned a bookstore in the old downtown district of Corneria City, the last flames of nostalgia to go out in a sprawling busy city. As a child, he'd sit under a shelf ladder and read the first tome of knowledge he would find. History, philosophy, poetry, anything he could get his hands on.

It was those days that suffering came to Corneria City. Chis didn't pay much attention to the news stations talking mainly about adult things he didn't quite understand. Things like dwindling economies, civil unrest and political promises went over his head. He paid it no mind and immersed himself once more into a world of fantasy in the fiction section.

The young Cadet gazed into space for a moment recounting those days and resumed his literary pass time. Then there was a voice from behind to startled him.

"Sir, I'm detecting a planetary system ahead."

It took him a moment to realize what she said and then leaped to his feet and ran to what remained of the command deck.

"Bring up the holo-imager!" he barked.

A circular, dome base project rose from the floor and flashed what the ships sensors had discovered.

'Well, its not Lylat,' he thought, as he gazed at the faint image. 'But we'll get there soon enough.'



TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox: Fall of Lylat Part 3



Location: Pouncer-class destroyer escort, Sunset Star CDF-D-132

Status: adrift for 2,889 days before regaining low output thrusters toward unknown star system.

Mission: survival




The groanings of the ships hull never bothered Chis at first, but during the past week or so they seemed to increase slightly. He knew at some point the ship would fail him to reach the closest star about half a light year away.

The Cadet couldn't wait that long. The ships food supply was going dangerously low and one by one ships systems began failing.

He had a choice to make. Stay here, conserve power and wait for rescue or the unthinkable.

"Sir, I advise against this," the ships on-board computer was calculative of Chis's chances.

"I can't wait for relief that isn't coming."

"But sir, activating the jump drive might destroy the ship, atleast tear it in half."

"You don't think I've thought of that? That star system is too far for this old bucket to reach at sub-light. We have to risk it."

"And if you reach it sir, how will you survive? I do not know if any planets in the system are habitable. And if one is an M-class, you will be alone, without shelter, without a legit strategy not knowing of whats out there."

"As I said, its a risk. Now spool the drive for a close jump."

"Yes sir, spooling drive. Setting timer for ten second countdown."

Chis hoovered over the console, hearing the whine of the FTL drive building up to high pitch hum.

"Jumping in 9, 8, 7, 6..."

The command deck went dark from the energy drain. The deck began to vibrate.

"...5, 4, 3, 2, Jump!"

From the cadet's point of the view, the universe seemed to blur softly before engulfing itself in bathing light. He remembered his first FTL jump, he said it was a strange feeling. The other crew members thought he was crazy because you can't feel the ships motion through space. But he did, atleast he may have been thinking too hard about it the matter.










"A would-be officer of the Cornerian Defense Force, space sick?" Chis remembered what the XO said, shaking his feathered head. "Agathol, if you're gonna make it in Lylat you got to lose the stomach you have and replace it with something cast iron."

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

Chis headed to the bustling crew lockers. As entered his locker combination, he looked at the room around him. It was just like high school, the Jocks, the Nerds and that girl he liked.

'What was her name?, ' he thought on the command deck, watching the universe pass by seemingly in slow motion.

"Madeleine, " said in the locker room. "Lt. Madeleine."

Chis's nervousness caught the better of him and respectfully his addressed his superior.

She laughed, knowing Chis wasn't a masher.

"I'm sorry sir, or ma'am or uh..." The cadet blushed passed his red fur.

"Ma'am will do fine cadet." She left grinning.

'Dammit, I could have handled that better.'







"Disengaging jump drive in 3, 2, 1..."

Out of the blackness rocketed the Sunset Star as it came out of light speed.

BAAAAMM!!!!!

Suddenly, an explosion ripped through the hull of the ship! The shock wave tore though the levels and decks sending debris like shrapnel! Command deck was tossed with Chis along with it!

"Report!" ordered Chis.

"A faulty Jump drive component malfunctioned igniting a ruptured plasma coil. Primary power generators are off-line. Auxiliary is not responding."

Anti-gravity failed just then and the flying debris began floating.

"This isn't good." Chis said. Then he turned in zero-g and saw just how close he was to one of the planets through a porthole.

"Ship will enter the atmosphere in 10 minutes."




TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 4




...loneliness...





The alarm siren boomed throughout the ship with a deafening repeated blast.

"Planet fall in 8 minutes."

Knowing the Sunset Star was doomed to a gravity induced fate, Cadet Chisteran Agathol was hardly willing the share in it. He gathered what supplies he needed into a satchel and changed into a spacesuit he set aside just for the event. Chis needed everything squared away before the ship entered the atmosphere.

"Planet fall in 6 minutes, 30 seconds."

'What am I missing?!' he thought as he stared at his stash. Something at the back of his mind told him he was.



"You don't talk much, do you Cadet?" Lt. Madeleine inquired.

"No, Ma'am. My parents taught me that 'a tongue in haste leads only to disgrace'."

"Heh, very poetic Agathol."

"I try Ma'am."

"You must miss it alot."

"Ma'am?"

"Your home, your family...wife?"

"No, my parents died five years before I joined the service."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Both of them?"

"I was told their deaths were quick and painless, but still..."

There was a pause for a moment. Chis stood at ease staring at the floor. He felt ashamed telling this to girl, let alone his superior officer. On top of that, Chis was obviously socially awkward and at times avoided her glance.

She tried her best to lock eyes with him. "Hey Chis, don't be shy."

Then there was a voice on the PA, "This is the XO, all Cadets report to CIC."

Chis heard the word and saluted his superior before heading out the doorway.

"Agathol, wait." She walked him and extended her hand. "Take this, I want you to have it. Its brought me luck and I hope it does the same for you." It was a crystalline stone that glowed when shown to the light.

"Thank you Ma'am." he said and left for a nearby lift.







"Planet fall in 1 minutes, 12 seconds."

"Where are you? Ah, there..." Chis had found the same stone Madeleine had gave him.

With his spacesuit on, he made his way to an intact escape pod, loaded his gear and strapped himself in the safety harness.

For better or worse, he was ready.


"Planet fall in 50 seconds."

'Its time,' he whispered. He reached for the manual release leveler and gripped it.

"Planet fall in 40 seconds."

Chis flexed his fingers, waiting for his window.

"Planet fall in 30 seconds."

He pulled the leveler!

*beep* *beep* *beep*

???

"Manual release is not responding."




TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 5





...sadness...






"You have got to be kidding me," Chis yelled through his helmet.

"Manual release is not responding. Planet fall in 10 seconds."

"Computer, channel power to escape pod 12!"

No answer.

"Computer!"

The desperate Cadet had no choice but to sit tight, but continued to barked at the A.I.

"Compu-"

"Manual release ready."

Chis reached for the leveler and tugged it. The escape pod launched violently away from the port far from the ship. He felt the pull of gravity as the pod began to burn in the atmosphere. All he could hear was the sound of his breathing. He thought about Corneria, the Sunset Star, what he was leaving behind. Chis closed his eyes.







"Front and center, boys and girls!" The XO wanted them sharp for the Commander.

Feldon Vernon Stoss was a husky of average height and a part of a almost regal family line of command grade officers. But the problem was Commander Stoss's abilities were less than exactly stellar. He was given the Sunset Star because of his cocky attitude about commanding a battle cruiser or a heavy assault carrier, even a light frigate not a destroyer. Stoss stepped heavily on the deck as if he was God's gift to the universe, nose in the air, hands held to his uniform overcoat. He stopped and gazed about at the Cadets, a stench seemed to be in his nostrils.

"Cadets, do you know what I see?" Stoss questioned. "I see the future. I behold the legacy of our ancestors before me. But it is the decisions we make today that ensures there is a tomorrow, whether or not that legacy of success endures within you."

He paced the deck and continued. "Approximately 1,450 years ago, there was a soldier. You know his name well, Axiom Felis. General Axiom Felis. He fought with his soldiers on the fields of battle. When he saw his legions vanquished before him, Axiom fell upon his on sword and with his dying breath uttered, "Death before defeat". He died defending his homeland, with his troops and following his orders. Glory, duty, honor and everything is secondary."

After looking over them one last time, Stoss left the briefing room. Not the first kind of pep talk from your commander anyone needed to hear, but Stoss seemed to get his point across: FOLLOW MY ORDERS TO THE LETTER.

"Jeez, who pissed in his oatmeal?" whispered a Cadet.

The XO dismissed the them and exited via the same route.

Chis thought about what he would do similarly to what the great General Felis did. He did believe in honor and duty was a must for soldiers or sailors, but not like chess pieces with his commander needlessly spending at whim. Stoss was one of those commanders.

'Gods help us,' Chis said silently within himself.





​In the escape pod, Chis could feel air turbulence jolting this pod. He reached for the monitor attached to his seat, the g-forces were strenuous. It read out how far and close he was to the planet surface and where he had to fire boosters to slow his decent.

"This is gonna be close!" The boosters fired and parachutes deployed. A while later, the pod landed with a thud and settled.

After removing himself from the console and safety straps, he made his way to the hatch. Gravity felt a bit lighter than Corneria, it made moving about the pod rather difficult. Finally the hatch was open and daylight shined through. Chis climbed out onto the loose soil and rose to his feet. He viewed the horizon, there was a blue sky and three moons overhead. Then he caught sight of a faint flash in the sky, it was the Sunset Star. She must have exploded in the upper atmosphere and then curved horizontally, pulled to the surface toward the horizon and out of sight. It was evening twilight and thus on the ship he called home.

"Well," he sighed, watching. "Goodbye, old girl," and turned in for the night.






TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 6





...​emptiness...






"Come on dammit, light!" Chis struggled with his little camp fire, after gathering bush and dry twigs around the escape pod.

It was nightfall and the young cadet was already feeling of a long, cold night ahead. He looked through his satchel for anything else to burn.

"Lets see, my books, journal, rations...whats this?"

He lifted a document folder titled in bold print, BASIC FLIGHT TRAINING.

"The hell? I didn't remember putting this in there."

Chis didn't and soon he realized it wasn't originally his bag. There was a name tag on the side.

"Gregor Kalsten, ah yeah, I remember him. The asshole pilot, we got off to a REALLY good start him and I."

Chis began tearing the document into burnable ribbons. "I'm sure he won't mind, one damn bit."

Soon his fire was started and Chis sat and watched the flames, warming himself. He then looked at what else he could find in his "friends" bag. A few odds and ends here and there. Caps to body sprays, tooth floss, a ball-point pen, nothing fancy. Chis reached around and found an inside pocket zipped up. "Well, what did you keep in here?"

After unzipping the pocket, he found papers, letters actually, alot of them. Chis took the first from the top and read it.







Dearest Gregor,


You'd pleased to know your sister is doing well on Katina. Brea likes it here and I think the climate will infact do her some good. She could write to you personally, but I think the disease has even taken that from her. She asks about you all the time and wonders when her favorite brother is coming to see her. I will give our home address in our next letter, we're staying at a friends house and will be moving into our own sometime this week. I'll keep you posted on Brea.



With love,
Mom






Chis felt cold, not because of the night but inside. He knew Greg was a jackass, but never knew why.

"Oh Gregor, I am SO sorry."

Chis continued reading the letters, about Brea on Katina. It seemed her condition was getting worse with whatever she had. Then came to the next letter.






Gregor,


I'm fighting back the tears as we speak, but I think I'm tired of fighting. Brea died yesterday and I want you to know she went peacefully and oddly enough with a smile on her face. I asked why she was smiling and said that you've come home. She stared at the door believing you were there, but you weren't there.

We are having the funeral service on Saturday...





Chis couldn't read anymore. He had no stomach for it. The next letters were unopened, possibly Greg found it too hard to continue on hurting. But the hurt continued with each passing day it seemed and lashed out his frustration on others.

'If only I knew,' Chis thought, 'but even then...'

He sat dazed, then caroused himself and was about to burn the letters. He stopped himself and put the letter back in the secret pocket in the satchel and zipped them up. He extended his hand with a stick and stirred the coals.





TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 7






...Why...Why did you leave...







Chis stirred himself awake. The sun shined through the hatch of the escape pod and onto the cramped deck inside. His eyes half closed, he could see cloud gently crossing the sky above. He stepped outside. The fire was still smoldering, the last remnants of ember to go out clinging to life as it were.

His first morning on the planet, Chis could see what he couldn't for the first time. He climbed a nearby dune of sand laced with long rooted grasses and saw the horizon more clearly. There was a fog bank in the distance and faint hint of rolling hills. However, aside from light vegetation there wasn't any sign of animal life.

'Maybe thats a good thing,' he thought.








It was time to explore, there was nothing else to do. After mentally marking his camps location he ventured out in a wide arc. He found nothing unusual, the same dry grasses and dead looking trees here and there. Chis didn't know what in fact he was really looking for, just a stroll through the park as it seemed, hands in his pockets looking up at the sky. The sand sank under his boots with each step each one less uniform then the next; he was whingeing finally. His steps grew heavier and more care free. He didn't get many chances to do this in the Cornerian Defense Force.







"Condition One!!! Condition One!!! All hands, prepare for battle stations!!!"

The Sunset Star's battle siren blared. Cadets and officers alike scurried about to their posts. The XO, Pascal Elecon, passed word to the sailors to arm the batteries and damage control team to assemble. The chaos quickly died down as all deck officers sounded readiness to the command deck.

"Sir," Pascal said turning to Commander Stoss. "All decks signal combat readiness."

Stoss looked down and stopped his stopwatch. One minute and fifty seconds.

"Get me ship-wide P.A." he said to comm officer.

The P.A. speakers chimed their tuned. "Crew, one minute and fifty seconds! I'm under the impression you all think this is a pleasure cruise! Thank the gods it was a drill, I doubt very highly we would survive ANY encounter!! Condition Three."

With that he signaled the 'kill gesture' and huffed shaking his head and groaned clutching his chest.

"Hey, take it easy. They're just kids, Vernon." said the XO.

"Those "kids" had it comin, when they put that uniform on."

"Yeah but they need guidance not be treated like the enemy."

Chis came onto the Command Deck. "You sent for me sir?"

"Yes. Commander, this is your new aid."

"Pascal dammit, I don't need an aid."

"Its regulations and you know it. You've got too much on your plate already."

Stoss gave Pascal a stare and gave in. "Whats your name, son?"

"Cadet Chisteran Agathol, sir."

"Well...Agathol, for better or worse, we're stuck with each other."

"I wouldn't say that sir."

"And how would you?"

"A privilege, sir."

Stoss almost looked stunned and didn't let it shine through. He dismissed Chis.

"Carry on, we'll start tomorrow."

Chis saluted and left the Command Deck in the direction he came.







The Cadet stopped for a moment and looked about at a river nearby. It was serine, quite peaceful and no doubt fresh water. He stepped towards it and felt the sand beneath sank to form a print and began to sink further.

Before Chis knew it, the ground underneath gave way and fell.




TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 8






...You left...me...here









Chis saw the horizon rise above him, the pull of gravity intense upon his body. He grasped for the walls around as the light darkened and overhead resembling a disk of sky.

He was falling.

In the blackness he continued to plummet, the echos of his his unheard screams bounced off the caverns below. Suddenly he hit on what felt like ledge. He grasped the stone outcropping which creased his decent, but lost his grip and fell to the floor on his knee. He heard a snap and sharp pain instantly shot through his right leg. Chis couldn't help his outcry of agony as it echoed for several seconds.

It was terribly dark, the young Cadet couldn't even see his hand in front of his face. He felt around the dirt covered stone floor to gauge atleast some of his surrounds. Then he remember, his top left pocket. He reached around and found three glow sticks. Now that that was taken care of, he turned his attention to his injury. He crack the first glow stick to see it more clearly. It was already beginning to swell and he saw it was definitely out of place. Grasping his knee from both side, he readied himself and took a deep breathe.













"Commander Stoss? Sir?" he could hear a faint muttering inside. Cadet Agathol entered Stoss's quarters and saw the commander sitting on the floor. The smell of liquor filled the air. It wasn't hard to guess that the commanding officer was hammered.

"Uh, sir?"

"Ah, yeah...um...Agithrog?"

"Cadet Agathol sir. Let me help you."

Chis helped Stoss to his feet but only got as far as the nearby sofa two feet away.

"Can I get you anything sir, uh from the galley?"

"Cadet, why did you join the service?"

"Sir?"

"Simple question, deserves a simple answer."

Chis stood silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "I wanted to be part of something. Back home I have nothing to call my own. So, I thought that I could contribute to something greater than myself."

"By that, you mean the Defense Force."

"Yes sir."

Stoss took another swig from his flask. "Don't you get tired of saying that?"

"Sir?"

"'Yes sir', 'aye sir', 'right away sir'. Forever it seems, I've heard that from kids like you, taking yes as the only answer.

Stoss stared sharply at Chis. "You wanted to be apart of this entity. Understand this, its a beast, a creature, gnawing at its own flesh. It will chew you up and spit you out and you'll have less than what you started with. It will sap every bit of strength you have and you can't walk away because you know nothing else. If it doesn't take your sanity..."

The commander laid back on the sofa, closing his eyes. "...it will take your soul."

Chis stood silently. He was about to speak.

"That will be all, Cadet."

He left Stoss's quarters.










*Crunch* "Aaaaaagh!"

With his knee back into place, Chis wrapped it with torn fabric. He rose to his feet and began navigating the densely dark cave.






TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...How...could you...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The cavern seemed to go on forever. Chis gripped the walls, limping while holding the green glow in front with his left hand. The pain grew more intense by the minute and the cadet nearly passed out, falling to the cave floor with his back to the limestone wall.

 

   He was giving up the fight. His vision blurred and saw double of the stalagmites in front of him.

 

   'Is this it?' he pondered, 'Is this the end?'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Father, read me a story." A six year old Chisteran lay sick in his bed, staring at him in the doorway.

 

   "Okay, one story."

 

   Otis Agathol choose a book from their bookstore below and brought it to Chis's bedroom.

 

   "Here we are, how about this one?"

 

   "It looks old."

 

   "Its a very old story, written in a time before the Great Uniting of Corenaria. It survived those terrible wars for supremacy and endured to this day."

 

   Otis put on his reading glasses and opened the first page.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The Hunt, the Hunter and the Hunted, by Joesph Ston.

 

 

 

    Ye had traveled far beyond the mountains. The winds they did beckon from the north. The Hunter observed the terrain for the prized meat and did not look back toward the way hence thee came, for twas not over, the Hunt. Over the tundras, walk and through the grooves, march. The Prize was not found.

 

    The Hunter looked to the heavens. Where were the gods today? If gods, him, they abandoned and allowing winter winds to pass early. Pressed on, the Hunter for the Hunt was not over.

 

    There, a glimpse afar! The Shape against the White! Alas the Hunter did find. Downwind was thy self, climb did the Hunter through the snow. Further a ways, thy saw with clarity. The great hump of the back and shoulders did see. Raise thy bow and missile. Poised the Hunter stayed, thy aim was certain, thy aim was pure. Closed, the fist about the bow.

 

    What does portend?! A sound behind. A flightless bird. The Hunter gave attention and let fly his missile. The Bird now Hunted, gave cry. The Beast afar took note. The Hunter saw and the Beast was gone. Rise from your hiding, the Hunt is over. The Hunter his prey and the Beast another winter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chis looked puzzled, "Thats all?"

 

   Otis closed the tome, "Yes my son, Joesph Ston wrote others, short just like this. In fact, this entire book contains all of his works."

 

   "But what did it all mean?"

 

   "Son, there are certain things in life that are puzzling, but one thing is sure...life is a puzzle, a riddle. There is no singular meaning to Ston's works, only that we must find our meaning. But remember Chis, not everything is like that. There is meaning in the universe, in things we understand."

 

   "I don't think I do."

 

   "You will my son, eventually, you will."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "I...I understand," he said in the cavern. Reaching for his glow stick once more, he climbed to his feet and continued his quest for survival.

 

   As Chis limped his way through the cavern, he heard a familiar sound. Water, an underground river and as he looked around the stone corner...

 

   

 

 

   ...flickering sunlight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 10
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...Come...back..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The river wasn't too deep and Chis saw no other alternative but to swim. He dragged himself along into the water til it was about to his naval; it was cold and freezing. Kicking with his left leg and cupping with his hands he made his way toward the cave's mouth.

 

   By the time he reached the cave opening, he could feel the suns warmth for the first time in almost a day. It was a good feeling, one Chis could not put into words. There wan't any time to waste on sunbathing however, a storm was coming in and Chis had to find camp as soon as possible.

 

   The dark grey cloud contrast against the deep blue sky was daunting. It covered over the landscape like a giant bird of prey or the mighty Roc of ancient myth. It spread its "wings" across the sky blocking out the sun. Then the rains came and the thunder followed by the lightening. It looked as if all the elements were set against the intruder who fell from the stars.

 

   Chis hobbled back the length of the cave from the surface, hoping he will find his escape pod camp by that avenue. He remembered the hole that brought him to the cavern, there may have been others along his path. Chis tested the ground about him, but this only made him lose more time to shelter himself from the storm that was hard on his heels.

 

   Finally, he reached a rise in the terrain. Quickly Chis got the lay of the land. Nothing seemed recognizable in dark overcast, frantic for a better baring. The sudden drops of rain he felt on his shoulder alerted him to more danger.

 

   "Oh crap!"

 

   It was time to remove himself from the elevated mound and promptly slid down it while avoiding any hurtful contact to his right leg. He touched down to the base and hobbled through the sandy clearing. The rain was coming down harder. Chis had to find camp soon, he couldn't stay in the cave he left behind. Then, he remembered.

 

   "East! South-eas-!"

 

   Just then, a blinding flash erupted, followed by a deafening blast of electrical discharge that struck him on his right arm just as he had pointed eastward. Chis had a look of disbelief as he fell to the ground on his back. His vision went white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Chis?

 

   ...

 

   "Chis? Wake up."

 

   Wha...What?

 

   "Wake up...Waffles are ready"

 

   Wait, waffles?

 

   The whiteness faded and Chis found himself staring at a ceiling in a house. Not just any house, the house where he spent most of his childhood. He looked about the room surrounding him. It was his old room, his bed, he remember the dresser with the scrap marks getting it up the stairs when they moved in. They? His mother and father? Was it them he heard in the dining room?

 

   Chis removed the blanket and comforter and sat upright. His uniform, where was it?

 

   Pajamas? I'm wearing pajamas?

 

   It was all very perplexing for Chis. As he gazed about some more, he notice his uniform cleaned, pressed and neatly folded on a nearby chair. He heard laughter and the sound forks against plates in the dining room. He walked down the hallway exiting.

 

   "Eh-hey, look who decided to show?"

 

   It took Chis minute, he thought he recognized the voice.

 

   "Z-Zak?" Chis said with surprise in his voice.

 

   "Who else could it be?"

 

   "But how...how..?"

 

   "Whats on your mind, Lil' bro?"

 

   Chis struggled to find the words.

 

   "How can you be here?"

 

   "Nice to see you too. Ahaha!"

 

   "But, the training accident..."

 

   "Sorry bro," Zak shrugged, "I'm right here. Don't know what to tell ya. Look at this kid, I just get here and already he wants to get rid of me. Come on dude, have a waffle. Aunt Marge doesn't want 'em to get cold and you know she is."

 

   "Aunt Marge?" Chis looked even more surprised.

 

   "Yeah, shes right there. Now eat."

 

   "Zak, Marge died a five years ago, you weren't a pilot then."

 

   "Okay?"

 

   "You had that job, that snack shop slash hydrogen station, remember?"

 

   "Hey, I understand."

 

   "Come on talk to me here!"

 

   "Yeah, I remember, I hated the place. It smelled like an old shoe. Chuck, you remember Chuck, he owned the place until he tried to steal from his own business. So yeah I remember. Fuzz everywhere!"

 

   "Alright, alright! So what is she doing alive?!"

 

   "What do you mean 'whats she doin alive'? What kind of question is that?"

 

   "What...is...she...doing...HERE?!"

 

   "Making...waffles! Jeez bro, you're actin strange today."

 

   "She died of cancer Zak! Cancer five years ago! Advanced stage!"

 

   "Oh, well I see."

 

   "YOU DO?!"

 

   "Next thing you'll say, everyone in this room is dead! Moms dead! Dads dead! I'm dead! Ya know what, maybe you're DEAD!!! You need a shock bro, a shock back to REALITY!!!!!"

 

   Chis stared motionless and began to choke at the table. And thats when he realized.

 

   It was supposed to be raining.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   His face almost submerged under a foot of water, Chis rocket up choking, sitting up feeling the cold rain. It was too late to find shelter now, atleast Chis thought so.

 

   Chis looked over his shoulder and saw he had stumbled into his own camp by a lucky mistake. Shivering, he limped to the escape pod, climbed inside and shut the hatch behind him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...No...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Warmth, from a sun that was distant as a beckoning beam of a lighthouse. The wind whistled and slowly began to howl, the sound of it blowing it through the grass like the ocean surf, wrapping the side of the fallen escape pod.

 

   Chis shivered, grasping to the coat of his uniform. He abruptly stirred himself awake and stared about his tiny living quarters. It was dark, so Chis turned on battery lantern on the floor. Gazing about, he found a book. Chis leaned forward without getting up picked up the paperback and read the cover.

 

   "The Chronicles of Shun De'ku: Ancient Scrolls of Long Ago." Chis raised a brow. The wind roared more violently with each passing minutes, he wasn't about to get any sleep while all this was going on.

 

   'Well I'm up for some ancient history.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Shun De'ku was born in a chaoic time, long before guns, airplanes when swords and spears were the advanced weaponry of the day. It was in this era, the great nations of Corneria fought endless, bloodly battles and there seemed no end in sight.

 

   The kingdom of the East, Fekyta Yellow banner (fay'kita) and her rival the western nation Balubor the Grey (Ba'lu Bor) waged a destructive conflict only for the feud between family houses.

 

   "My Lord, King Basu, the Grey banner have come. Their harold does send word to us."

 

   The young fair haired king inclined his ear. "What has the barbarian said this time?"

 

   "Three words, your lordship."

 

   "And what are these words?"

 

   "Death to Basu."

 

   The whole court gasped. A chieftain rose to his feet, "Is this the way the Great King Basu will allow to abused by this savage?"

 

   "Savage he may be," Basu said while folding his hands, "I have three words for Kolok, the lord of the Grey as well."

 

 

 

 

   The Yellow banner was made up of the golden hair vulpine, thought to be the decedents of the gods themselves, clean and regal, while the Grey banner were those who lived beyond the frontier, hardened warriors, brothers of the Wolf.

 

   In great long lodge of Kolok lord of Grey, a feast in honor of none other than their god of war Graa'sut (Graw'sut) celebrated with vile manners that would dishonor any other god.

 

   Kolok rose to his from off his throne and raised his chalice to the ceiling, "Graa'sut!!!"

 

   Thousands of warrior joined in the toast, bellowing the name of their patron.

 

   "Today my brothers," Kolok spoke, "we march again to the city of Basu! The blood feud of centuries past will continue til Rosgard is drained of blood!"

 

   Wolfen warriors pounded their fists repeatedly on the long wooden table. The hall echoed with cheers of blood lust.

 

   "Yet again, Vulpine blood will flow in the forests and into the rivers! We shall not be denied!!! We shall not be swept away aside!!! We shall have justice!!!!"

 

   "Wolfen justice is a unique prospective."

 

   Silence fell and heads turned, there a visitor in the halls today. Kolok placed his cup down and walked the length of the grand table of his father's fathers. "Be you from Basu?"

 

   "No." said the cloaked figure, removing his hood. "But equally important."

 

   "Ah, so, our Husken cousins from the North have come to greet us. But ever the missionaries! Why have you come.?! Is it to beg for mercy? Have you seen the error of your...peacemaking ways?"

 

   "Kolok, you have been lord and steward of the westward frontier. Lord Wake of the family Wake of the North has allowed your reign with exception that we do not fight with you. However, Lord Wake cannot allow you to continue this fruitless feud any longer."

 

   "Vol'tek, what is it you are trying to say?"

 

   "You must in 30 days remove yourself from being king."

 

   Kolok stood in disbelief. Then let lose a rolling burst of laughter.

 

   "What?! I am king of all that is grey in the west!"

 

   "Not anymore. You have stained this land with you actions."

 

   "Well then, who? Who will reign in place of me, that I will pay my...respects?"

 

   "You will not."

 

   "And why?!!!"

 

   "For the same reason all prey hides from the hunter. Shun De'ku, a vulpine."

 

   The halls grew restless and Kolok's face shook with rage. "A...a...vulpine?!!!"

 

   "Yes, the godson of Lord Wake. On the end of the 30 days, YOU WILL hand over your kingship."

 

   The messenger left by the way he came. Kolok stood clenching his fists, fuming.

 

   "How can Wake do this?!"

 

   One of his assassins approached. "My lord, let me take care of it. I will cut his throat." he said holding a knife.

 

   "NO! I will wait, for NOW!!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   *yawn*

 

   Chis rubbed his face and marked his place in the book. He felt he could sleep better now that the wind had died down. He curled up and turned out the light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 12







...no...please...no...







   Chis slowly became conscious. Half asleep, he gazed at his watch in the dark, turning on the LED back light.

   04:34

   Chis stood up to stretch and remember his knee injury by the sharp pain.

   Ouch!

   He sat back down on the deck, almost toppling over his lantern. Just then he heard a noise. He thought it was just the result of him rustling around, but it came from outside.

 

   'Maybe its the wind.' Chis thought. He moved toward the hatch which was closed, placing his ear to the metal bulkhead. For a moment, silence. But there it was again. It probably was the wind, but Chis wasn't taking any chances.

   Tiptoeing back to his bedding arrangement, he withdrew a pistol from under his pillow of waded up fabric. He stealthily returned to the hatch and listened. He rather hoped the planet was lifeless, but he didn't want to be alone either. Slowly he opened the hatch carefully enough so it wouldn't make a racket and pushed it back against the pod. Chis gazed around cautiously.

   Looking to each side with every step he scanned the surroundings. He was about nine or ten paces from the pod when he turned to find a loose hull plate tap against the the escape pod. Chis felt relieved when he lowered the hand gun. He stood gazing at the pod and then at the windy night sky. Chis started for the pod when he heard a similar noise. As he turned a glimpse catch his eye and then something tackled him and forced him to the ground! Chis was temporarily off guard, unprepared for real danger. The cadet rose up on one knee and remembered it was his right.

   The pain faded when his eyes met his attacker. Standing on the dune was a terrible sight. It was large, reptilian, but covered with feather-like fur except for its head and legs. Its tail bore impressive protruding long feathers to the tip. Chis didn't notice the beautiful features of the beast, he stared into its glowing night vision eyes, beaming and reckoning. He felt immobilized.

 

   The creature crouched and forced itself into the air, displacing sand as it leaped. Chis's eye traveled upward following the beasts ascent. The grace it showed, such power. As it came into the light from the lantern, Chis could see the mouth opening, claws outstretched, raised to strike. And then he remembered as he fell backwards to the ground.

 

   BLAM!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Christeran Agathol?" said the deck officer.

 

   "Uh...its Chisteran...just one r."

 

   "Commander Stoss wanted to see you."

 

   There was something in the air today aboard the Sunset Star. Something odd. Chis made his way to the CIC and saluted the Commander who was already in conference.

 

   "Cadet Agathol sir."

 

   "Cadet, you aware this is a training run..."

 

   "Yes sir."

 

   "Well, we've been called to tend to more pressing matters. Colonel Pascal, brief the Cadet."

 

   Colonel Pascal stepped forward.

 

   "We received new orders from CDF command. 14:00 hours yesterday, a cargo vessel was attacked and destroyed, one of several incidents in this area...here", he pointed to the holo map, "between Fichina and Duringao system freight lines. We've been ordered to investigate."

 

   "Commander sir, if I may ask sir, what does this have to do with me?" Chis asked. Stoss answered.

 

   "You and a squad of Marines with leave this vessel in a dropship and proceed to a freighter Winter Queen​. There, the crew of the freighter have apprehended atleast one of the pirates, the others are somewhere in the cargo hold. Your orders are this, take command of the squad, arrest the pirates and bring them back aboard the ship."

 

   "What about the pirate vessel?"

 

   Pascal replied, "As far as we know, the freighter's crew saw the ship escape into light speed. No further vessels were in the area."

 

   "Can you handle this?" Stoss said with cold stare.

 

   "Yes sir, I'll do my best."

 

   "I don't want your best, I want better than your best."

 

   "Yes sir." Chis saluted after being handed his orders and left for the hanger deck. Pascal turned to Stoss in amazement.

 

   "Why that kid? Why Agathol?"

 

   Stoss didn't answer.

 

 

 

 

   Outside the dropship exited the hanger bay doors and turned about along her mothership's hull to her detention. Chis looked nervous. After all, it was his new assignment without the safety of the ship. The dropship stretched in light speed away from the Sunset Star.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   BLAM!!! BLAMBLAM!!!

 

 

   Chis fire a few rounds into the beasts head which fell behind him, dead. Sweat poured down his face, he had faced primal fury before, but not like this. He started for the pod and realized.

 

   This is the first creature I've seen, but there are bound to be-

 

   Just as the words were in Chis's head, he heard growling to his left and found several other beasts brandishing their white fangs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Guest BlueRaccoon]

I guess I'll be the first to say something about this story. 

 

The story is actually pretty good.  There are plenty of good details.  For instance, you describe the ship and the situations Chisteran goes through very well.  Also, speaking from personal experience, you describe shyness correctly and well.  I'm that way with everyone.  Like when you write that the woman tries to lock eyes with him, that was a really good detail to add in.  Also, I can tell your creative just because of the history and mythology you added to the story.  That was really good.  The story felt real.  The flashbacks were also placed perfectly.

 

I've said this in almost all of my criticisms and I'll say it again in this one: Your big flaw is grammar.  I read what you said in Glacier's thread and you're right:  Not everyone is a wiz at it.  However, some of the mistakes you made were just lazy ones.  Glacier at least tried (sorry if I sound harsh).  It's not to the point where I can't keep up with the story, but some parts sound really funny and it takes away from them some.  I'll just use this one sentence for example:

 

"It took him a moment to realize what she said and then leaped to his feet and ran to what remained of the command deck."

 

It would be better and easier just to say "It took him a moment to realize what she said.  He then leaped to his feet and ran to what remained of the command deck."

 

I hope this has been helpful.  This really is a good story and I can't wait to read the next part.  Also, good job with keeping your story up to date.  I'm running a little behind on mine at the moment  .  Thanks for the good read.

[Snys93]

Thanks, I am crappy at spelling and sentence timing lol. I'll try to be better in the future.

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat Part: 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...you...you...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   In the moonlight, the sandy dunes drifted with the winds. Each gentle blast furthered its flow across the surface. But even in this sand covered vastness there was tension.

 

   Chis stood motionless as the pack of creature were poised, snarling, feathers standing on end. They were growing bolder with each second, testing to see if he would run. Chis checked the clip of his pistol. He had 16 shots left, not enough to halt the beast should they decide to attack in full force. Carefully the Cadet check around to see what aid him in the Zonessian standoff. He found nothing. Then he had an idea.

 

   'These creatures are no doubt nocturnal, sleeping all day and hunting by night. Hopefully a bright enough light will scare them.'

 

   The Cadet had a chance to use the reserve flares that could be used to signal a rescue party. But Chis knew that they weren't coming, not anytime soon atleast and he had a slight problem. The flares are stowed aboard the escape pod, a good ten feet away. He would have to think fast and run. The pack was getting impatient, jarring closer whenever Chis would look away.

 

   It was make or break.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Sir, we've just arrived at the rendezvous. We are in visual range of the Winter Queen. ETA 1 minutes."

 

   The dropship had exited jump speeds and vectored to the "anchored" freighter. The merchant vessel was long and bulky, weathered by her years of service. The dropship coasted and placed into position with her retros and achieved soft seal on the freighter's port airlock.

 

   "We have soft seal." said the dropship pilot.

 

   The airlock doors slid open with a deafening rusted screech. The reptilian captain was waiting on the other side.

 

   "What took ya? I was getting impatient." The freighter captain looked at Chis who had just walked off the dropship. "Ya look a bit young for this, laddy."

 

   "You have the pirates in the brig?"

 

   "Don't have one. We made do with an empty cargo container and locked 'em in."

 

   "And the others?"

 

   "Down in da hold. As for as we know, theres just one."

 

   "You're sure?"

 

   "Positive. Now, are you gonna get him off my ship or am I?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chis signaled the squad to form in behind him after getting clear instructions where in the cargo hold the pirate was. The Cadet made as far as the door when shots were fired.

 

   "Hold your fire!" he barked to the marines. "Hey, you in there. I'm Chisteran Agathol of the Cornerian Defense Force. I just wanna talk."

 

   A voice came from the depths of the hold. "I'm not interested Chisteran! I'm not cooperating!"

 

   "What do you want?"

 

   "Obvious, isn't it?! I want safe conduct out of this cargo hold, I want a ship primed and ready! Do you hear me?!"

 

   "I'm coming in. I'm unarmed."

 

   "Whats he doing?" one of the marines said to another, "Is he insane?"

 

   Chis walked into the darkened hold slowly. His steps echoed.

 

   "Thats far enough!" Chis heard the voice from his left. "Think I'm stupid, huh?!"

 

   "No, I just wanna talk. Thats all."

 

   Chis turned to see the pirate huddled with what appeared to be a detonator. "You don't give me what I need, I blow us and ship up!"

 

   "How old are you?"

 

   "Whats it to you?"

 

   "I don't know, humor me."

 

   "I'm almost 15."

 

   "Almost, that make you 14. Whats you name?"

 

   "Names mean nothing. Now get me my ship!"

 

   Chis knelt down. "Or you'll kill yourself, is that it?"

 

   "So."

 

   "So? You're 14, you joined a band of rouges and now you think you're ready to take a life and not a ship full of Zoness and Macbeth civilians that just want to go home to their families."

 

   Chis extended his hand to the young feline for the detpack. The feline hesitated, but I promptly gave it to him.

 

   'It wasn't even armed,' Chis said to himself.

 

   "I was scared, I didn't know what to do! They shanghaied me into joining them! You gotta believe me!"

 

   The cadet and his prisoner both walked out of the cargo hold to the dropship.

 

 

 

 

 

   Soon they were back to the Sunset Star and Chis, marines and five prisoners exited the craft onto the flight deck. Commander Stoss followed by XO Pascal waited.

 

   Chis saluted the commander. "Sir, we have the prisoners. Detained as ordered."

 

   Commander Stoss paced the line of prisoners, all were cuffed and at gun point.

 

   "Agathol, you said on the wireless that they had explosives."

 

   "Yes, sir. Fifty thermite charges rigged for simultaneous detonation."

 

   Stoss walked slowly looking into the eyes of each of them.

 

   "Which one held the detonator?"

 

   "Sir?" Chis looked surprise.

 

   "Which...one...of them had the detonator."

 

   "Sir I-"

 

   "WHICH ONE?!"

 

   Pascal intervened, "Vernon."

 

   Stoss turned to him with fire in his eyes, the like even Pascal never saw. The he turned to Chis.

 

   "I WILL NOT ask again!"

 

   Chis answered, "The one who had the detonator was the feline, but he gave willingly. He was shanghaied."

 

   "And you believed that?!"

 

   "I looked him in the eye, sir. He wasn't lying."

 

   Stoss walked a ways and paced the deck.

 

   "Shall I place them in the brig?" asked Pascal.

 

   Commander Stoss turned, "No..."

 

   Stoss walked toward them, the prisoners.

 

   "Throw them out the airlock."

 

   Chis inhaled sharply and locked eyes with Pascal in disbelief. "NO SIR!"

 

   The Commander seemed most annoyed at Chis's outbursts. "You seem to have a particular problem with my ORDERS CADET!!!"

 

   "Under law in the Cornerian Constitution, Article 7: 'the right to trial by jury'. He, all of them are under that law."

 

   " '...in certain cases according to common law', these men are terrorist and under law they DO NOT have rights! Colonel Pascal, carry it out!"

 

   "Sir you cannot do this!!!"

 

   "Sergeant, arrest the cadet!!!!!"

 

   Silence fell as the marine Sergeant cuffed the Cadet and tugged him away. Pascal didn't utter a word of protest as the marines forced the pirates into emergency airlock B. The young feline and Chis's eyes met one last time as Chis struggled while being dragged to the brig. The door closed, air tight and Stoss himself vented the airlock.

 

   Chis stopped and hanged his head down low. He never saw such cruelty. Asking, 'why' he was placed into the brig putting forth no effort to escape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   'Okay. 1...2...3!!!'

 

   Chis ran to the pod while the creatures gave chase! He leaped inside and struggled to shut the hatch as one of the beast fought to get inside as well. Chis pressed against the hatch with all his might. One of the beasts grasping paws reached inside and dug into Chis's arm. Howling in pain, Chis grabbed his pistol and wedged it in the opening. He discharged several rounds into the animal until let go, allowing to close the hatch completely. Chis fell back to the deck bloodied and in pain. The creatures scratched and roared against the pod continuously and long into the night.

 

   All Chis could do was bound his wounds and wait.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...uh...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chis stirred from his unconsciousness. His arms were crossed, his right over his left holding the pistol he had used earlier that night and his left arm had stopped bleeding. The cadet checked his watch and saw it was 7:45 in the morning, his standard Cornerian time. Right away he noticed the creatures had stopped trying to get in, but that didn't mean they were gone. He moved to the hatch and listened. Nothing, yet.

 

   Changing into clothing that wasn't bloodied, he felt the need to leave the pod entirely. Those things now knew where he was and wasn't about to have a repeat of last night. The cadet gather what he could carry and cautiously exited the escape pod. As he was prepared to leave, there was a curious noise from behind one of the nearby dunes. Chis turned and approached while holstering his hand gun, pulled back the bolt and leveled it.

 

   Climbing the dune he made his way to the summit and aimed his weapon after springing from his location. What he saw at first surprised him, then worried that it might be some sort of predatory trap. When he found none of the creatures at all, now that seemed very strange. In the sand at Chis's feet, lay a pup the beasts that attacked him. It curled itself into a ball trying to gather warmth. Then Chis put two and two together. 'I must have killed its mother.' he thought.

 

   Bending down, he picked up the whimpering little baby and stuffed it gently in the interior wall of his coat. Chis couldn't bear the thought of leave the defenseless infant. With that he put his mind to the horizon and the pod behind him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The cold is the cold, there can be no difference. But when placed in a ships brig is a painful reminder of how you got there. Chisteran Agathol, CDF Cadet, imprisoned for questioning the commanders direct order, an order which he could not fulfill. Chis lay on the uncomfortable cell bunk staring at the gray chrome ceiling, thinking.

 

   'Why?' He asked over and over. Inside he was furious about what happened, but outside he could do nothing. He felt powerless against the worlds, this ship and her commander. They all seemed to collapse upon him as he felt the proverbial finger pointing at him as the root and cause of every wrongful deed and action. Why was it his fault that he had a conscience, that right and wrong was plain to him as night and day? How could a person like Stoss exist, to be so cruel and confuse the lines between justice and tyranny? Chis could not understand 'Why'.

 

   During the conflict within, he had a visitor. It was the XO, Colonel Pascal. He instructed the marine guard to leave his post temporarily. Chis sat up from his reclining position as the Colonel walked in unlocking the cell door.

 

   "Colonel sir." Chis saluted.

 

   "You...got lucky Cadet. The Commander wants to forget the events of six hours ago."

 

   "I wish I could, sir."

 

   "I know, I was there. But for your own good and the rest of us..."

 

   "Sir, what does he want? If I can't have conscience, what does that make me?"

 

   "I don't know kid. If you don't watch it, he just might pin that terrorist tag."

 

   "And thats another thing. Since when did CDF officers have the authority to become judge and jury? We aren't even at war."

 

   Pascal looked around sharply. "Can it kid! I'm sorry, truly I wish it didn't have to be this way. Stoss believes in having an iron fist and sometimes he hammers hard. I'm just trying to save you kid in case the hurt comes. Now whats it gonna be?"

 

   "Yes sir."

 

   "Alright then," Pascal opened the cell door wide. "I think its safe to warn you now." The colonel drew in close to Agathol and whispered in his ear.

 

   "Commander Stoss has does this before, I don't want it to happen again."

 

   Chis whispered back, "What are you saying?"

 

   "Because..." He looked around and behind. "We're planning to mutiny."

 

   The Cadet's face turned white, his eye widened. "Mutiny?"

 

   "Its the only way. We have non-commissioned crew members who are willing side with us and I was hoping you would too. We'll arrest the Commander on the charge of murder and unlawful conduct. I'll gain command and order a course back to Rivataaut Shipyard. We hand him over to the Admiralty and our evidence."

 

   "Are you insane? Mutiny on board a Corenarian military vessel is a serious offense."

 

   "Not if we do it right. Now get going! And not a word of this to anyone! We'll talk again."

 

   Chisteran departed the brig block for the decks above. He climbed his way to compartment D via the service ladder. Soon he arrived at the command deck located in the center of the ship. Reluctantly he saluted his commander, but didn't show it.

 

   "Cadet Agathol sir, reporting for duty."

 

   Stoss passively leered over and resumed reading reports. "At ease. Stick around, you might learn something."

 

   Cadet tried his best not to seem sarcastic. "Yes sir, I believe so."

 

   Colonel Pascal came soon after and locked stares with Chis. Just then, the sensor station cadet sounded off. "Sensor contact, bearing 6.7 port side!"

 

   "Identify, Cadet Skor!" barked Stoss.

 

   "No Cornerian transponders, no transponders of any kind. Shes on an intercept course, sir. Estimated time til weapons range, one minute."

 

   "Colonel, set condition one." Stoss said.

 

   Pascal grabbed the PA handset, "Set condition one throughout the ship! This is not a drill! Repeat, not a drill! Fire and damage crews, standby! Weaponry and gunnery stations, standby for orders!"

 

   Stoss turned his attention to helm station. "Helmsmen Kalsten, 10 degrees port, 5 degrees yaw."

 

   "Commander, we need space." Pascal said, "We don't even know WHO or WHAT we're fighting."

 

   Stoss didn't say a word. He continued staring at the sensor monitors. The day had only just begun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Stopping to rest, Chis sat on a flat stone half submerged in the soil. He noticed as he walked the sands had faded into wet dirt and ahead seemed like rolling hills and prairies clouded in mist. After swigging from his canteen and palming some water to his thirsty pup in his coat, they set off away from the known and into the unknown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...hatred...fear...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The grassland rippled in the wind like waves on the open ocean. It was noon and the sun hanged high in the sky. Carving a path through the low growth, Chis eyed the horizon and constantly looked behind for anything. Every once in a while he'd open his coat and checked on the little passenger. The infant creature stayed snug and coiled, relaxed. He could almost make out a slight purring sound from the baby. In all this unknown wilderness, he found comfort that he was not alone.

 

   The small trees he saw from the dunes from the distance suddenly didn't seem so small. The towering forest of giants lined the meadow as a wall of an ancient city. He saw and heard birds chirping in the high branches, fluttering and calling to each other. It seemed this planet was teaming with animal life after all.

 

   Chis had entered the forest passing boulders and fallen logs, inspecting their age as he went by. The echo of bird calls bounced between the trees and faded into serene silence. The cadet continued observing the millenniums of growth, untouched by industry and the march of commercial progress.

 

   It was time make camp for the night. Gathering branches and brush, he constructed a suitable temporary hut for the night. Chis built a fire and warmed himself while cooking a can of beans. It was the last one. Tired he looked over at the spindly creature he brought with him. It whimpered as it looked eyes with him. "Aw, you're probably hungry." Chis spooned the baby some beans and wasted no time devouring the morsels. "Easy little guy! Nobodies stealing your food." The little beast was done and decided to sleep next to Chis.

 

   'Well, just make yourself comfortable then.'

 

   Chis stirred the fire, then folded his hand and slept.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Power up the anti-ship turrets. Prepare for a lateral run!"

 

   The Sunset Star hurled through space at war speed of full sub-light. Her cannons pivoted and angled, aimed at the ghostly presence near a quasar cloud.

 

   the comm officer spoke from his station. "No answer to our hails."

 

   "Well Mr. Pascal," Stoss said, "It seems they're not friendly as you would have hoped."

 

   "I don't be like this Vernon, they might just turn tail and run into the quasar. Then we'll never catch them."

 

   Stoss continued staring at the sensor monitors. Chis stood close by, remember what Pascal had said to him before, about the Commander. It was true, he was a reckless tyrant but still the commander of this ship. The young cadet was wise to consider Pascal's advise seriously and observed the Commander's behavior more closely. Pascal continued to voice concerns. It was clear the Colonel didn't want to arrest the Commander unless he continued in this manner.

 

   "Main batteries have a firing solution sir," a cadet announced.

 

   "Fire!"

 

   "Firing."

 

   The Sunset Star's turrets erupted streams of explosive fire across he gulf of space. Through the ever thickening cloud, fire returned, slamming into the Sunset Star's hull. Inside the command deck rocked and the collision alarmed blared.

 

   "Commander, they're withdrawing in the gas clouds. Do we pursue?"

 

   "Affirmative. Helmsmen, pursuit course!"

 

   "Sir," Pascal piped, "I must make the Commander aware of the possibility that our sensor scopes will be interfered with by the gaseous anomaly."

 

   "I am aware of that, Colonel. They won't escape us."

 

   The Cornerian destroyer entered the cloud at sub-light, chasing an unknown foe into the void. As Pascal had stated, indeed the sensor scopes were useless. Stoss rigged for silent running. The command deck, the ship, the crew waited in silence.

 

   Stoss called his officers to the holo-imager at the center of the command deck.

 

   "I need out of the box thinking here. Lt. Madeline, whats your take?"

 

   "Our sensors are useless, its safe to say theirs are too. They're probably further in the cloud then had speculated. Perhaps even long gone by now."

 

   "Why take a risk like that? Why attack like that and run."

 

   "They're cowards Colonel."

 

   "Sir, this was premeditated. I fear we may walking into a trap."

 

   "Maybe their vessel was outmatched," Madeline added.

 

   "Enough skepticism, we need to find the ship!" barked Stoss

 

   A voice came from behind. "What about the recon probes?"

 

   All three officers turned and looked at Chisteran. "What about them, cadet?" Pascal asked.

 

   Chis hesitated for a moment and then continued. "Recon probes are designed to pickup images, extended sensor sweeps and so forth. Our onboard ship sensor array as well is not designed to function in an ionized cloud such as this. However the recon probes have sensors to detect subspace vibrations, in this case the unique signature of ion engines."

 

   "Well, Mr. Agathol. Interesting." Pascal added.

 

   Stoss stared at Chis. "Good call. Prepare to launch recon probes."

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Outside the ship, the probes were launched in a spread of directions. In the command deck they monitored the reading.

 

   "Cadet Skor, anything?" Stoss inquired of her station.

 

   "Negative." the sweep continued. "Wait, I've got something. 25 degrees off the starboard bow. Its low output, whatever it is."

 

   "Helmsmen, 25 degrees starboard. Slow and steady. Gun crews, how does it look out there?"

 

   They called through the comm. "Can't see worth a damn sir. Gods damn cloud is mucking up our visibility."

 

   Colonel Pascal came from off another commlink. "Commander, I've just spoke to engineer Lagnay. We can't stay too long in this cloud, its effecting our shield array and radiation is just pouring in."

 

   Stoss stood still and thought about it for two maybe three seconds. "Kalsten, continue course."

 

   "Begging the Commander's pardon, but we cannot sir. It poses a very serious danger for this vessel."

 

   The Commander did not answer. He stared as he always did at the monitors, uttering not a word.

 

   "Sir, we cannot maintain pursuit. We must withdraw."

 

   All Stoss did was stare, silent, still.

 

   "Commander? Sir?"

 

   Not a word.

 

   "Sir?!"

 

   Nothing.

 

   "SIR!!!"

 

   BANG!!!!!

 

   The tension was broken and all eyes shot to the holo-imager.  A smoking gun was present at the hip at a 35 degree angle. Pascal had a look of astonishment as he looked down and saw his uniform pooling with his own blood and fell to the deck. Chis rushed over to the Colonel, placing his hands hard about his chest. Stoss move forward to him.

 

   "Move away from him," he gestured with his sidearm.

 

   Chis didn't move. "Call the medic!"

 

   "I said...MOVE!!!"

 

   "NOOOO!!!!!"

 

   Stoss's eyes blazed and leveled the gun at Chis. He shook with rage, his hand trembled. The Cadet stared back with defiance. Slowly Stoss's hand went limp and dropped the gun to the floor. He exited the command deck for his quarters as the cadets and officers alike looked at each other in confusion and shock. Pascal looked over at Chis and talked softly. Chis leaned in to hear the whisper as the medics rushed. The Cadet stood up and stepped back as the medic took him away to sickbay.

 

   "What did he say to you?" said Lt. Madeline.

 

   "He told me that you lieutenant, are to assume command of this vessel."

 

   Suddenly the ship was rocked violently.

 

   "They found us first!" Chis said struggling to regain his footing, "What are your orders?!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUE...

[Guest BlueRaccoon]

Your doing just as good as before. I like your story. I should study yours more to write mine (the good detailing and such, I mean. Not trying to steal your story or anything).

[Snys93]

Nah, I know you're not trying to steal anything

 

I've found describing the environment and the characters reacting to whatever is happening very helpful.

 

For example, a character can seem bored or irritated in the subway station or waiting for the bus. He or she is surrounded by people maybe kids with parents, elderly folks, drifters and hell, lets put a robot in there . Describe the weather, are there birds out? Is the sun shining? How about a rain storm? Back to the character, what is he or she feeling? Embarrassed, annoyed, cheerful? Whats he or she carrying, a suit case, satchel, handbag? Where is the character going, home, work, vacation? How does the character feel about it?

 

A good way to write about a situation is basically how would you feel and what would do if that character was you. Be truthful to yourself and then mold it to your characters personality. Its also good to write a thesis about the character or characters. Gathers their likes and dislikes, their virtues, strengths and weakness.

[Guest BlueRaccoon]

Wow, that's some really good advice.  Thank you.  I will keep these things in mind.  

[Snys93]

Wow, that's some really good advice.  Thank you.  I will keep these things in mind.  

 

Glad to help.

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...vengeance...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   The salvos continued without letup from somewhere inside in the cloud. Lieutenant Madeline was recently granted command of the stricken vessel the Sunset Star.

 

   "Helmsmen, take us out of the cloud! Full sub-light!"

 

   "Aye!"

 

   Flying blind the Sunset Star thrusts away, as enemy fire continues to pelt the already damaged ships hull. Cadet Kalsten strained at the controls to get the ol' girl to make a "u turn" back the way she came and soon arrived at cloud layer's edge. The Cornerian destroyer blasted to safety with the attacker in pursuit.

 

   Cadet Skor spoke from her station. "Lieutenant, I've got sensors back outline!"

 

   "Are they following?"

 

   "Affirmative! But-", Her sensor station beeped repetitively.

 

   "But what? Skor?" Madeline asked.

 

   "Several blips on scanners, I'm reading six ships in total. All vectoring on us!"

 

   Another salvo struck the vessel. An alarm sounded!

 

   "Hull breach on deck 15! Repeat, hull breach on deck 15!"

 

   Madeline looked over at Chis who was struggling for footing. "Sorry Lieutenant, I've run out of ideas!"

 

   "I haven't." she said looking at the holo-imager, at the pursuing ship. "Whoever they are they must have a leader."

 

   "You mean like cut the head off the snake?"

 

   "And the snake dies. Trouble is we don't know which one hes is." She stared at the holographic image of the attackers formation.

 

   "Well we better decide quickly", a explosion rocked the CIC, "they're gaining on us!"

 

   "That one!" She toggled the CIC comm link. "CIC to gun crews, target the vessel left of the lead formation! Give 'em everything!"

 

   All the aft turrets redirected their fire according to Madeline's orders. They all fired at the same time, sending a 1,000 pounds worth of compressed shells each hurling across the vast gulf between them til they plowed into their target. Amid the silence of the vacuum, the fuel and life support fueled flames quickly died in cold space leaving shattered debris and a tumbling disarrayed hulk.

 

   "Ahaha! Good hits! Their breaking off!!!" Shouted an ecstatic gunner. The jubilation made its way into the ship, down the halls and up through the decks. It seemed to be the end and now for sighs of relief.

 

   "The ships are breaking off their attack, " Cadet Skor confirmed, "It worked Ma'am."

 

   "Have they stopped following us?"

 

   "No they dropped far enough just out of weapons range."

 

   Madeline turned to the communication station. "Cadet Samson, can we rise Fleet Com?"

 

   "Negative Lieutenant, the attackers are jamming communications."

 

   Chis came from the engineering station, "We've got more problems. Chief Lagney reports that FTL is disabled. Repair crews are on the ball."

 

   "Great." Madeline rubbed her face. "Helmsmen Kalsten, maintain speed and distance. Set a course to the nearest CDF oupost."

 

   Chis leaned and whispered, "Ma'am, the nearest outpost is DS 1137."

 

   "And how far is it?"

 

   "At current speed," Chis walked to the holo-mager's star chart, "we'll get there in...dammit."

 

   "What."

 

   "One year and three months."

 

   "Son of a bitch, thats too far! We might run out of fuel for the reactor by then."

 

   "Ma'am, damage crews are doing what they can with Fast than Light Drives."

 

   "Lets just hope its enough, Cadet."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Morning in the forest.

 

   Chis awoke to find the baby creature fully awake licking his face.

 

   "Alright, alright I'm up. You must be hungry."

 

   The Cadet stood up, stretched and cracked a few bones back into place. "Sleep good, huh?" The baby just stared at him whining for a morsel or two.

 

   "Well, I'm glad somebody did. Here." He found some jerky, one of the last pieces. The pup looked, sniffed and looked back at Chis.

 

   "Don't like it? Hell, Neither do I. Its not like I can go to the grocery store, ya know? What else am I gonna feed...?"

 

   A low groaning came through the trees. It startled Chis at first, then quietly move through the tree to a clearing. He crouched behind a rock and beheld a massive herd of animals moving though the forest grove along a green meadow passage. Hundred of herbivores groaning and bellowing calls to each other. Chis watch felt the pup leap to his shoulder, staring intently at the herd.

 

   "Don't get any ideas of your own, little guy." he said. "I've got a plan."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 17

 

 

 

 

 

 

...heartless...

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chis was nearly finished fashioning from twigs to form what he called a hunters bow. He put together the final touched and stretched it for a quick test.

 

   "Ah ha see? What do you think?" he said as he turned to the lounging pup. It gave a seemingly disappointing glance.

 

   "A lot of help you are. With this, we'll eat tonight. You'll see." He stretched it once more, this time it snapped violent.

 

   "Ouch! Dammit, son of a- Aghhh!!!" The broken parts of the bow cut into left hand that held it. In rage and disappointment he threw away the craft he worked hours on then tended to his wound. Chis looked at the pup who had locked eyes with him.

 

   "Plan B then? Okay, hold on."

 

   After binding his hand with a clean bandage, he sent off a ways in search of a something he could fashion into a spear. He found a few sticks here and there not enough to truly become an article for hunting. Finally a promising shaft of timber.

 

   "Okay, now for a spear head."

 

   Sometime later, he fashioned a stone point and attached to the shaft and tied it with a shoe lace. It wasn't the best finely tuned weapon, but it was enough. Chis had to conserve what bullets in his pistol he had left. With pride he held it high, then he checked the sun in the sky and his wrist watch.

 

   "Dammit, I guess its jerky again to..." He stopped, there was a rustling behind him. Chis pretended he didn't notice and his thoughts began to race. Was it those 'things' again? As he turned slowly, whatever it was thundered out of the bushes, squawking and cawing. Chis was undoubtedly startled by the mass charging him and tilted his newly made lance to the intruder. The creature stopped in its tracks, what Chis would later describe as a "nine foot turkey". The Cadet held his spear tightly not really sure what to do if the beast decided to charge again. As the excitement died down and his heart no longer in his throat, Chis noticed something strange. The giant bird had a bridle, harness and what seemed to be a saddle on its back. This could only mean one in Chis's mind: he was not alone on this rock.

 

   Although starved, Chis saw the advantage of having some sort of a beast of burden. He lowered his lance and crept closer to the bird as it peeked around and bobbing its head. He reached for the reins and quite nearly got his hand snapped off by the Terror Bird's beak. 'Oh, I guess its hungry.' Chis thought, then remembered the jerky in his pocket. He found sizable piece and showed it to the bird whose interest was no doubt peaked. The bird snatched the jerky and Chis grabbed the reins.

 

   Chis took only what he and the bird could carry and saddled up. He secretly placed the reptile thing pup in his jacket. Now all was left was to figure out how to ride this thing.

 

   "Okay then, uh go?" The bird was indifferent. "Mush? Yah? Getty up?" Chis was about to give up and gave a sigh and a whistle. Suddenly the bird reared its head and took off like a shot through the treeless meadow. "WHOA GODS DAMMIT!!!" Chis almost fell off. Not know where he was going, they certainly weren't late.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   "Thats cutting it mighty close, don't you think Chief Lagney?"

 

   "Begging the Acting Commander's pardon, we have no choice. In order to make a bypass to repair the FTL to at least half capacity, we need to cut power through decks seven and twelve."

 

   "Which is where our weapons systems are located. We can't risk it."

 

   Cadet Agathol stepped forward, "How long will the power have to be down, Chief?"

 

   "At least 30 second, a minute at most."

 

   "And the moment our weapons go off-line, those ships will be on us like a pack of dogs on a three legged cat. No offense fellas."

 

   "And we can't send word out either", Lagney added, "Just got word from the EVA team on the dorsal side, deep space comm dish is an afterthought. We can't send or receive."

 

   "Have we tried talking them? W-What do they want?" Chis said shaking his head.

 

   "Cadet, its clear what they want. They're pirates. See that symbol on the starboard side?" Madeline pointed to the holoimage she just brought up. "It matches a discription by Macbethian tradesmen on route to Kalidann trade port near Sulbaba'al. Blood thirsty, furious and stubborn."

 

   "I don't know, Ma'am. If it was weapons, plasma coils or military issued tooth paste they wanted, I'm sure they would broken off by now. Even after losing a ship, they would have just left, but they didn't. Whatever it is its possible that its not something of value on the black market. I afraid it might be personal."

 

   "What do you mean?"

 

   Chis gathered his thoughts, "Did the crew of the Winter Queen give a clear description of the vessel that attacked them?"

 

   "Well, no they said they were attacked and boarded before they knew what hit them."

 

   "So they didn't see the ship?"

 

   "What are you going with this, Cadet?"

 

   "Think about this: we were ordered to take a group of prisoners from that freighter, the ship that carried out the attack vanished. The prisoners are taken here to this ship and then soon after we are attacked by a group of pirate vessels."

 

   "And if thats the case," said Lagney, "We have to give them want, give them the prisoners."

 

   "I'm afraid its not that simple."

 

   "Why," asked Madeline, "What happened?"

 

   "Commander Stoss had them thrown out an airlock. He accused them of being terrorist."

 

   "Then, were screwed. Totally."

 

   "No chief, I don't think so. They wouldn't have followed us this long without knowing their fellow crew members are dead. They think we still have them."

 

   "So what do we do Ma'am?"

 

   "Make them think we still have them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Chasing the horizon, Chis, bird and pup raced through the meadows leaving the forests and into the vast grassy plains. They were covering more ground then ever before and Chis was eager to find settlements of people, people like him. He found new hope and let out a cheer of excitement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[Snys93]

Starfox Fall of Lylat: Part 18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...Cold...Calculative...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   A stiff breeze passed over the grassy plains. Stocks of glass at a foot tall waved in the wind like the gentle waves of calm sea. There was a mass of dark clouds over the horizon and the hint of thunder rolled in the skies above. The plains were empty of herding animals, their huge trails visible in greenery. Chis observed this while stopping for a breather. That storm was coming dangerously close and by the look of things he didn't have the luxury of shelter. Climbing back on his Terror bird, he resumed his trek through the plains.

 

   It was just Chis's luck, the storm had passed by. As an hour passed, the sun shined through what remained of the dark cloud layer. Suddenly a few moments later, the Terror bird became restless. "Whoa, easy!" Chis smelled the air and realized it was smoke. Sure enough as he looked around, there was a pillar of black smoke in the distance.

 

   'What is it, a wild fire?' Chis asked himself. Seeing this surprise the cadet thought it best to investigate, but no doubt with caution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

   As he approached, there were more than one or two fires. There were a dozen all together. And as Chis came closer, he noticed they were huts, corrals and places of meeting. People live here or lived by the looks of things.

 

   "Hello?!" he shouted. There was no answer. He dismounted, leaving his lance and other weapons in his saddle pack while leading the bird by the reins. He searched as he walked and saw no one. It seemed strange, only a few of the buildings were burnt. Where was everyone? Whatever happened everyone in this village left rather recently. He saw food still in the huts on tables and chairs were over turned. Chis poked his head through one of the doorways in one of the vacant houses. As Chis stepped back he felt something sharp on his neck.

 

   "Don't move," said a voice behind him. "Get your hands up and turn around." Chis complied and turned to find a dark grey husky flexing a menacing bow and arrow at him.

 

   'That bow looks way better than mine.' he thought.

 

   "Who are you?" she demanded. "Why are you here?"

 

   "Honestly, I don't know. I was just passing through and I saw this vill..."

 

   "Shut up! Which way did they go?"

 

   "Who?"

 

   "Answer me!!! Where did they go?! The ones who ransacked the village or are you one of them?"

 

   "I don't know! I was just got here. Now put that thing down."

 

   She looked deeply into his eyes, she saw the truth in them and lowered her weapon.

 

   "Now if you don't mind," Chis said, "tell me what is happening."

 

 

 

 

   Her name was Lee'et, daughter of a famed chieftain. She and the remaining members of her clan had struggled to survive to never ending onslaught of a rival band they called The Marauders. In one intense skirmish in the plains, her father as well as half of her brothers and sisters were slain to serve as a warning to other "trouble makers". However this did not shake her resolve for vengeance.

 

   The Marauders origins are shrouded in mystery. Lee'et told Chis about their first appearance since the time of the Great Birds, a major event her people hold dear in their mythology.

 

   "They are demons. They do not sleep and they do not eat. And when they die, their bodies do not rot."

 

   "And you have made not effort to contact them?"

 

   "Why? Marauders are only made for killing!"

 

   'I'm clearly getting nowhere with her.' he thought.

 

   Lee'et's eyes wandered about Chis, his strange clothing and his manner of speaking were unheard of in her village.

 

   "Just who are you?"

 

   Chis looked around. "By the look of things here, a far away place."

 

   Lee'et didn't understand his meaning. "Come, I'll take you to the encampment."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   On the Sunset Star, things were not going well. The CDF destroyer was experiencing power fluctuations in several systems.

 

   "We can't hold off like this for too much longer." Chief Lagney said over the comm link in engineering.

 

   Acting Commander Madeline was running out of tricks. Now that the sub-light were having trouble, the game had changed and the pirate vessel inched closer back into weapons range. Then she made a decision.

 

   "Helm, full stop. 90 degrees starboard."

 

   "Commader?" Chis said with surprise in his voice.

 

   "We can't run anymore. Now they have to stare down our guns."

 

   "And are our broadside."

 

   "Got any better ideas?"

 

   Then word was patched through from sick bay. XO Pascal was dead. CIC went silent, a moment for a dead comrade in a tense situation. Then the comm station gave a report.

 

   "Commander, I have received a short range hail. Its from the lead ship, Ma'am."

 

   "Put it through."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Both on Terror bird back, Lee'et and Chis arrived some time later to the encampment. Chis saw a sorry looking group of people. Dirtied, hungry and driven half mad by frequent surprise attacks. They were surrounded by a fence of sharpened erected stakes and moat dug the night before. What fear was put into it and evil that made them so afraid. Chis felt the eyes upon him as he entered. How they stared unnerved him but not as much as how they closed the gates behind them.

 

   "They'll attack again, soon," one villager said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED...