Gunship - The Series
Page 57
“Don't need a map. I know where we're going.” Dalton replied.
“Um,” Anthony replied with confusion. “Alright sir. Where would that be?”
“To get my best friend's son back.”
“Sir, with all due respect, we don't even know where the Hunters are?”
“No resource ships in their fleet. Means they have to be somewhere in the Skyla System, and I can promise you,” Dalton said with stern truth. “There's not a rock in this entire system that the bastards are going to be able to hide under when I'm finished.” he promised.
“Alright sir.” Anthony replied, though he seemed reluctant to do so.
“So you send our scout ships back out and you have 'em comb the system. When they find the Hunters' fleet, you have 'em float over a message in a bottle,” Dalton said, choosing his words proudly. “That we're coming – and I'm bringing motherfucking revenge with me.”
“Will do sir.”
“Who in here served on Glimmeria the first time around?” Dalton asked loudly.
Three hands were raised. Two of them deck officers, while a third was a colonial soldier stationed on the door of the CIC.
“How many friends did each of you lose?” Dalton asked.
A strange question, though each respected his command enough to offer their answer. Seven. Four. Eighteen.
“Congratulations, you're my new XO. Now get your ass up here.” Dalton demanded of the soldier stationed on the door.
“Sir?” the soldier asked.
“Commander, you should consider this decision wisely.” Anthony pleaded in a soft voice.
“Who's a better candidate to lead a group of people that have lost so much - then a man who has also lost, and done so while fighting for the right side since day one?”
“Sir, I just think...” Anthony began to plead.
“I don't want you to think,” Dalton replied sharply, staring the man down. “I want you to execute my damn order. Every minute the vampires are out there is a minute that filthy bitch has her hands on my godson.”
“Yes sir.”
“Come on private, carry your ass up here.” Dalton insisted of the guard by the door.
“Yes sir, I'm just taken back by the promotion. I think very highly of you and appreciate you thinking so much of me. Hope I don't let you down when I admit I know nothing about these computer systems?” the soldier asked.
“Well,” Dalton replied, reaching over to read the soldier's name tag. “Sergeant Cohen, it can't be too damn hard,” he added, leaning over to whisper into his new XO's ear. “Everyone in here has soft hands. How hard can it be?”
Smiling to his new XO, Cohen eventually smiled back – understanding that he and Dalton were cut from the same cloth. Hell-raisers for the same cause. Defense of the defenseless.
-
“Maybe you're thinking on it a little too much.” Cambria suggested.
“Maybe,” Dalton replied, sitting at a large desk of polished wood as he studied the papers carefully.
“You should rest,” she said with concern. “Particularly your slugging hand.” Cambria added with a chuckle.
“That sumbitch had it coming.” Dalton replied in his own defense.
“Alright, if you say so,” Cambria replied, placing her hands in the air. “Just don't hit me.” she added with a grin.
“Oh, you're a wise-ass.” he commented, offering her a wide grin in return.
“Speaking of,” Cambria said, placing her palm to her head as though she were suffering. “You owe me cowboy.”
“I reckon I do.” Dalton replied, cutting his full-attention to the woman who awaited his embrace.
“I would hate to think that our mighty leader was no good on his word.” she said playfully.
“I'm good for my word alright,” he answered, standing to his feet as Cambria now lay there, half-nude and teasing him. “Or, as so many women have called it,” he added, drawing a disapproving look from his lover. “Just plain good.”
“Really?” she asked.
“Just get over here and love on this old hound dog. That's an order.” Dalton said – technically his first command as the man in charge.
“What?” one of the two stationed guards asked as the other stared to him.
Answering his question with a continued stare, it was evident that the thickened-steel walls weren't thick enough.
“Block it out.” the guard added, Cambria and Dalton growing louder – as if wild animals were mating on the other side of the door.
A smug look came across the face of the quiet marine. His way of saying impossible.
“Try.” the first marine added, escaping into deep thought for a moment.
It's gonna be a long damn night.
-
Commander's Log
The first of many, I suspect, as life seems to have thrown a curveball right into my lap. Still, as commander of this fleet, I'm tasked with providing hope. A task I welcome.
Seeing the pain in the eyes of my best friend has been indescribably hard. He is a brother. The closest thing to family I've known since I was a child. So, as I look into the eyes of those around me among the fleet, I understand their loss.
The good news is that we've confirmed across the fleet that no infected made the exodus. The bad news, of course, is that we have no real idea of direction. We simply do not know what perils or wealth of resources await us beyond the line we consider uncharted space.
We've deployed probes that have relayed information back to us, but only the basics. We've no idea if life exists out there. No real number of days we can actually survive based on our food storage and fuel counts.
We have literally become a race that is chained to our ships. Bringing with us only what we could stock in rush, which doesn't amount to much in terms of comfort.
Some among the fleet think we need to revisit the planets throughout the Skyla System once more. Perhaps salvage more of what we need before setting sail into the stars beyond.
Not revisiting the planets among our former system seems to be the only thing Doctor Arness and myself agree on. The sumbitch. I can already see that he plans to be a constant thorn in my side, though he will do so with a few teeth missing.
They say that assuming power changes a man. I don't know about that. I've changed, that's for sure, but I do not credit my new position of power for it. I credit loss.
As I look back on all of the memories gone by. The bars. The bar-fights. The jail time. The bedding of women. Well, to be frank, this list could go on for quite some time. Being an official entry and all, I'll cut to the chase.
The loss of so many who I cared for has changed me. Many of my good friends. My crew...hell, even my dog. They've all been taken from me, each one taking a piece of me with them to the grave.
The moment I held true love in my arms - I became a man. So I accept the challenge of leading these people to a new home. I'm ready.
I'll lead these people as the man they need me to be. The man that life has molded me to be.
The whiskey though, I'm not giving that up. I've grown into a man, but I ain't dead.
-Commander Dalton James
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Gunship
Gunship II: Glimmeria
Gunship III: Reflections
Geartown
Gunship V: Roman
Legendary