by Max Swan
The Long Road Home.
Copyright 2016 GW Enterprises
Author: Max Swan.
Credits
The images on the cover of this ebook comes from freeimages.com, and the cover design by Greg B. and is used with permission.
Chapters:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 1
A heavy silence permeated the car as it sped through the streets of Hajan City, on the planet Bolaris. Two passengers sat in the backseat. One looked out of the rain spattered window at the dark buildings as they rolled past. The lights coming from the windows promised a warm hearth and a place of refuge in the miserable night. The other man, General George Appleton, looked at his cell. Its bluish glow illuminating his old battle-worn face, grey hair short in the military style, and bright blue eyes that indicated wit and intelligence. He tapped the cell and the glow disappeared, leaving a moment of darkness that made each man shift uncomfortably in their heavy overcoats.
Bolaran cities or towns had few street lights, except around shopping precincts. The Bolaran’s considered any other lights a waste of energy. The land car sped through a residential sector on its way to Fort Callahan. Its headlights illuminated the road and houses in front of it, while the rain fell in heavy drops visible in the light. General Appleton is the Commanding Officer of the Earth Marine Corps (EMC) outpost on Bolaris, he’s served seventy years in Earth’s war with the Garan’s. The General glanced at the officer next to him who was trying to ignore him.
“You sure you don’t want a sedative?” he asked the officer.
Major Paul Goddard closed his eyes and sighed to himself. I wish everyone would stop asking me that, he thought bitterly. He cleared his throat.
“No sir, I’m fine,” he said stiffly.
Though the Generals concern was genuine, Paul had grown tired of people assuming he were about to have a mental breakdown. When he had returned to Bolaris from his last mission, every shrink at Fort Callahan wanted to assess him. Paul wanted to be left alone.
The General scratched his cheek and shrugged.
“Shit, if I’d been through what you have recently, I’d be taking that sedative with a serup chaser.”
“Yet here you are kicking me off the planet,” Paul said.
“Earth Command ordered your evacuation, son, so stop being so paranoid,” Appleton said, a deep frown curving his mouth downward.
“I heard the Bolaran Felite has been pressuring you to move me on.” Paul’s gaze remained fixed on the General, making him shift uncomfortably.
How the hell does he know that, the General thought?
“Son, this has nothing to do with the Bolaran’s, and you know it.”
Paul shook his head.
“If you say so, sir.”
He turned and looked out the side window at the buildings rolling by as they headed toward the base to catch a shuttle.
Silence fell again in the car, and the General found himself watching Major Goddard. Given what’s happened, I don’t blame the Felite for being skittish, Appleton thought. Goddard’s presence makes this world a target for something far more deadly than Garan’s. Something that could kill us all, he shuddered as fear rose in him. However, a begrudging respect arose from the General, as he recognized a man of courage in Goddard. If this man could survive, maybe there’s hope for us all, he hoped?
*****
They arrived at Fort Callahan and went directly to an airfield where the black tear shaped shuttle waited for them on the tarmac. It’s back hatch already open. The car pulled up behind it. Both men put on their caps, lifted their collars, and got out of the car running for the shuttle entrance through the heavy rain. Once inside, they shook themselves down, sending water everywhere. Another soldier ran into the shuttle with Paul’s duffel bag and dumped it on the floor. After the soldier left, the hatch started closing while Paul and the General buckled into their seats in silence.
As the shuttle engaged its qdrive, the rain above it began to fall up, until it disappeared altogether. The shuttle rose into the air, in silence, speedily disappearing into the darkness. General Appleton closed his eyes and held his stomach, trying to control his nausea. He opened his eyes to see Paul smiling at him.
“Is something wrong, major?” Appleton asked.
“I’m surprised you’d get queasy on a jump,” Paul said.
“I never used to. My doctor says old age is catching up with me. I say, screw old age,” Appleton replied, then grimaced.
“Sir, are you sure Colonel Nadir is OK with this mission?” Paul said, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes slightly.
Appleton nodded in sympathy.
“Nadir can be an asshole, I agree, but he’s the most experienced Keeper in the fleet.”
“He should be, he’s a dinosaur,” Paul said, screwing his nose slightly.
On his last mission with Nadir, more than five years ago now, he had found the man more a hindrance than a help. A recon mission on Garan activities, on a planet where the native species had developed to a pre-industrial stage of evolution. Nadir’s Ship was the ride, but the Keeper had tried to take control of the mission, nearly blowing his cover, and managing to alert the Garan’s to their presence. An opportunity to observe the Garan’s was lost, and as a result they fled the planet once they had detected Nadir’s Ship. Given their history, this isn’t going to be a happy reunion.
Paul watched the pilot maneuver the shuttle effortlessly through the EMC Ships orbiting Bolaris. Several dozen of these behemoths of space travel were in orbit of Bolaris. Ships are living space vessels grown in the EMC genetic engineering labs. Space vessels made of metal and plastic were always covered in blinking lights, and thus easy to spot. A Ship on the other hand, is difficult to spot in space, for the untrained eye. As it either looks like a dark mass outlined by the stars, or by sunlight illuminating one side of the brownish/black hull. Marines often referred to them as ‘the great turds in space’ as they had a similar shape.
Ships were developed using the DNA from a space inhabiting life form in an experiment known historically on Earth as ‘The Jonah Project’. This life form (nicknamed space whales or Nomads) could travel through the Void, a layer of empty two-dimensional space between dimensions. By observing these creatures, mankind finally conquered the riddle of the Void. Opening the door for humanity to travel the vast distances of the galaxy in weeks, or months, depending on the distance. Space exploration and colonization became the next great wave of human endeavor as a result.
Ship thirty-thirty dash twelve is one of the first large-scale organic vessels ever built in the EMC. From bow to stern it measured more than five kilometers long. It could hold several thousand Marines, a full complement of shuttles, transports, and Warbird’s. One Ship could equip a ground force in combat for a year before needing resupply. Ships also have surgically implanted weapon turrets, with disruptor banks and torpedo tubes in various places over its length. Paul never felt sentimental about Ships as some marines were prone to.
As a Greeter, he had been in too many arguments with Keepers to ever feel attached to one. Greeter isn’t a title the EMC officially used, but as a nickname it had somehow stuck, and marines in the field used it always. A Greeter’s role i
s a cross between a diplomat and commando. Keepers are never allowed to leave their Ship, except in a safe port, so Greeter’s are in command on field missions. Something which causes friction between Greeter’s and Keepers.
The shuttle slowed and the stars disappeared outside the window as Ship 3030-12 got closer and closer. Before long they went down a tunnel, and the shuttle landed and connected to a rail line on its bottom hull. The pilot disabled the engine, allowing the rail to take them downward at a steep angle for a moment, making Paul and General Appleton grab the armrests of their seats to steady themselves. The ride levelled out, and the Shuttle stopped. The back hatch began to open and they undid their seat belt and stood.
General Appleton unbuckled his seat belt and called out to his pilot, “I won’t be long, Corporal. Keep the meter running.”
“Yes, sir,” came the reply.
Paul walked out of the shuttle carrying the duffel bag over his shoulder, followed by General Appleton. Colonel Nadir stood there waiting for them. Paul dropped his bag by his leg, stiffened his body and saluted.
“Permission to come aboard, sir?” he said holding his salute.
While Keeper’s had human DNA, they’re not human. Nadir is typical looking, for his race. A round head, a wrinkled face, like folds of skin from the center of his face descending from the scalp right down to the upper lip. In the middle of the last wrinkle a mouth and chin were present, jutting out unexpectedly. The wrinkles moved often, reflecting the mood the Keeper is in. However, the most striking feature of a Keeper is their large black eyes that always gave the impression that they could see right through a person.
Nadir is the oldest Keeper in the fleet, nearly three-hundred, so he had short grey hair on his scalp that kind of stuck up like spikes. He is one hundred and ninety centimeters tall, and his body is humanoid in shape. He saluted Paul stiffly.
“Permission granted, Major,” Nadir said. “The Greeter’s quarters on Deck D have been assigned to you. We’re leaving in forty-five minutes so I suggest you go and change, I’ll need you on the Bridge.”
“Yes, sir,” Paul said as General Appleton reached his side, making Nadir salute this time.
“Welcome aboard, sir,” Nadir said to General Appleton.
The General saluted briefly.
“Thanks Colonel.”
He turned to Paul, held out his hand, and they shook.
“Good luck, son. You’ll be in good hands with Colonel Nadir.”
Paul didn’t look at Nadir, but said, “Thank you, sir. Permission to go to my quarters to prepare for the journey ahead?”
The General nodded, Paul saluted again, and picked up his bag and walked quickly to the lift. They watched Paul in silence. Appleton sighed, thinking, if there goes the best hope for humanity, I need a drink. The lift doors shut, so Appleton and Nadir were finally alone.
Nadir took a deep breath, and said, “General, all I need is another ten hours and I can have another hundred crew back on board. To expect me to go with—”
Appleton waved his hand, silencing Nadir. “We have the element of surprise here, Nadir. The Garan spies on Bolaris won’t be expecting such a bold move. So the answer is no.”
“But, sir—”
Appleton frowned deeply at Nadir.
“You have your orders.”
“If this rushed mission has to do with what happened to Colonel Abdul, you’re making a mistake.”
Appleton’s frown went deeper. What has happened to security around here, he thought in frustration? “How the hell do you know about that? That’s classified information.”
Appleton glared at Nadir making him grimace.
“The Keepers grapevine, General,” Nadir said.
Appleton stepped closer, taking short breaths, feeling his heart race. Gritting his teeth and using his finger to punctuate each word with a jab in the air.
He said, “All you have to do is deliver Goddard to Earth.” Taking a deep breath he stepped back, and withdrew his finger, trying to calm himself. “You don’t need a full crew for that. You’re not going into battle.”
Nadir shook his head and his wrinkles moved making his face appear screwed-up.
“Six people, including me and Goddard, isn’t even a skeleton crew.” It’s a joke, he thought.
“I have noted your objections. Now, do I assign this mission to another Ship, or are you going to follow your orders?” Appleton watched him, holding his body firm, his gaze steady. Part of him wanted Nadir to refuse as it would give him an excuse to retire him, something which many in Command wanted.
Nadir took a deep breath and puffed out his chest.
“I’ll follow my orders, but I’m sure the Keepers Guild will be lodging a formal complaint with Command about this.”
Appleton shrugged nonchalantly.
“They can blow smoke up Command’s arse, for all I care. Now, I have to be going before I’m missed.”
“Thank you, sir, goodbye,” Nadir said, but the General didn’t move.
“Oh, and I want you to lay off Goddard.”
“Sir?”
“I know you Nadir, you’re going to take out your anger over this mission on him every chance you get. Goddard’s been through enough. So if I hear you’ve been riding him in that nasty ass way you do, I’ll have your retirement papers signed before you get back. Is that clear?”
Appleton held Nadir’s gaze as tense silence took over.
“I don’t see how I can ride him, I’ll be melded for the trip. So I’m insulted by the insinuation, General,” Nadir said.
“Good, we understand each other then.”
General Appleton turned on his heel and walked briskly back into the shuttle. The hatch closed behind him, and not long after the shuttle departed. Nadir sighed and walked to the lift, his heart pounding in his ears. Ride him, the words echoed in his mind, ride him? Goddard better be worth all this trouble, he thought. Still, he doubted it.
*****
Paul entered his quarters and immediately stopped dead in his tracks. Looking around the living room/kitchen area that his door opened into, he grimaced and sighed. Crew quarters were often decorated in a style that the occupier preferred using specific furniture, modified environmental controls, and three-dimensional holovision panels. The end result is a room that gave the impression it was on a planet, in an attempt to prevent ‘cabin fever’. Paul’s preference is a Nordic themed, log cabin, set on a mountain that reminded him of where he grew up in Norway. The last Greeter stationed on this Ship had a peculiar liking of nineteenth-century Paris with views going up the ‘Avenue des Champs-Élysées’, with horse-drawn carriages, and couples walking hand-in-hand in nineteenth-century dress. The reproduction furniture in the room garishly rococo in style.
At least I’ll have something to do while I’m in the Void, he thought looking around the room. He walked to the kitchen and looked in the cupboards, eventually finding some bottles of vodka and he pulled one out and looked at it.
A childlike voice suddenly said behind him, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Nadir will have you in the brig for it.”
Paul put the bottle down and spun wide eyed. “Dexter? Dexter Crimpson?”
Dexter stood there in a white shirt and dark-green pants. He smiled tilting his large head slightly, “Who else would come barging into your quarters like this?”
Paul rushed over and fell to his knees, hugging the small man whom accepted it and hugged back. Paul pulled back looking at his friend saying, “You look great. What’s it been a year?”
“Yeah, it’s been too long. Whenever I could wrangle some time off, you’d be on some mission saving the universe.”
Paul’s smile withered. “I can barely save myself these days, much less the universe.”
Dexter placed his hand on Paul’s shoulder, looking him in the eyes. “I’m only joking, my friend. General Appleton told me that you’d been doing some important work.”
Paul abruptly stood and looked down on Dexter
with narrowed eyes. “Did he send you here to babysit me?”
Dexter shrugged and gave a weak smile. “Kind of, but I’m due to go to Earth anyway, to brief Command on the research I’ve been doing. They needed a Brainiac for the trip, and I needed a ride to Earth.”
Paul laughed. “You? Serving on a Ship; hell must surely have frozen over?”
“It’s purely a matter of convenience. Besides, it’s only one way and the Keeper will be melded for most of it.”
“I’m sure Nadir will find a way to needle you in the brief time you’ll serve under him,” Paul said stifling another laugh. He recalled Dexter saying many times how death would be preferable to serving under a Keeper again.
“He’ll find a way to needle us both,” Dexter said, and laughed,
Paul joined in. “At least I’ll have some good company in the Void, anyway,” Paul said. He didn’t know why, but having Dexter around felt as though a cloud had lifted off him.
Dexter looked at his watch. “You had better go change into your Ship uniform, as we’ll be expected on the Bridge shortly.”
Paul sighed again and walked into the bedroom, picking up his duffel bag as he did. Not long after he emerged wearing his black uniform with a thin white stripe down the outsides of the pants and shirt sleeves. On his shoulders he wore a gold leaf insignia that indicated his rank of Major, with a silver badge that read ‘Major P. Goddard’ above the left pocket on his shirt.
“Well, let’s do it,” Paul said.
Dexter walked out the front door of Paul’s quarters, followed closely by Paul shutting the door behind him.
*******
Walking into the Bridge, Colonel Nadir ignored them as they took their stations. Paul nodded, aiming a slight smile at the officer across the room working the communications station and she nodded back. He remembered her, Jane Barrett, an Intelligence Officer (IO) who had been serving on this Ship when he were last on it. She was a lieutenant back then, now she wore a captain’s bar on her uniform. Barrett is an attractive woman with long brown hair tied back in a pigtail, amazing green eyes, and a very pale complexion. However, he remembered she is a cold fish, and in typical IO fashion had a reputation as a real ball-buster.
She suddenly spoke aloud. “Sir, Bolaris Space Traffic Control has cleared us for orbital exit, and Void insertion along sector two-two-five.”
Nadir looked at her briefly. “Thank you Captain. Inform them we’re on our way.” She nodded and worked her station speaking into a headpiece she had on. Nadir looked at Dexter with a slight scowl. “Mr. Crimpson, you may proceed with Void insertion.”
