The Fleet

by John M. Davis

  “Alright, alright,” Doctor Arness said, quickly stepping onto the stage to usher Dalton away from the microphone. “Our commander is obviously under a lot of stress, I apologize,” he added. “We'll release an official statement later today.”

  The crowd seemed in disarray, as if a wrestling match had broken loose. Though the marines would see them to the hangar bay exits, one way or another.

  “Are you trying to start a revolt among the people?” Arness asked loudly, following Dalton through a narrow hallway which led to the commander's quarters.

  “Officer,” Dalton said, pointing to one of the guards which stood by his doorway. “Get this gentleman out of my face.”

  The marine was quick about it. Pointing his rifle into the general direction of the doctor in order to march him away.

  “You cannot stop the inevitable Commander James. Sooner or later there will be a struggle for power among this fleet!” the doctor yelled with anger.

  “You best hope there ain't. You might just wind up on the wrong end of the whipping stick.” Dalton said with a scowl.“This is as far as we go Phantom One. Don't forget about us.” one of the swordfish pilots jested as both fighter jets turned sharply. Hitting full-burn to return back to the God of War.

  “Oh they're hilarious.” Anna commented, though she did so only to her partner.

  “Yea.” Craig replied as he continued to run schematics. Mapping the area around them.

  “You're awful quiet, what's up?” Anna asked.

  He wanted to just spill it out. How he'd been madly in love with Anna since their trip through the academy together. How so many nights he'd lay awake, thinking of her every detail

  Brilliant eyes with seemed to sparkle as diamonds. Her smile. Her damn infectious smile. She was the perfect example of beautiful, in his opinion, with the cutest dimples he'd ever seen and sandy blonde hair that demanded his attention. Though, for the sake of travel, he kept his thoughts private.

  “Ah, you know. Just trying to grasp that we are the first ones to explore beyond this area. Ever.”

  “Pretty exciting, huh?” Anna asked.

  “Yea. I guess so.” Craig replied.

  “Wow. You seem REALLY excited.”

  “Na, it's just that I'm hoping for a quick find so we can get back home.” he replied.

  “We don't have a home to go back to.” Anna commented.

  “This much is true.” he replied with a grin.

  “I mean, is my company really that bad? I'll try to make it as painless as possible.” she said with a giggle.

  “No it isn't,” Craig said. “Anyone who says otherwise will have to answer to me.”

  His reply brought a warm smile to Anna's face.

  In fact, his quick wit usually did. She'd been completely and madly in love with Craig since their very first encounter. Before he even spoke a word. Anna had caught a mere glance of him and been immediately struck with that lightning bolt. The one that so many spend a lifetime chasing, but never find. She'd found it long ago, though she dared not act on it for fear of rejection.

  Her excitement soon faded, however, as reality set it a bit. They were in a tin can of a ship surrounded by floating planets and rocks as far as the eye could see. Even farther when it came to their digital mapping equipment. It was as if they were in a small lifeboat floating through an endless see of peril in search for hope.

  To this point, no others had seen the clusters of planets which surrounded them. Truly a first in flight for the humans among the Skyla System. For all of their firepower and technology, the unknown of deep black space presented most among their race with fear.

  If zombies existed in the outskirts of their star system and vampires on the home planet of Ronica, what perils could possibly await them in uncharted space?

  With plenty of resources and terrain to expand, there had never been a need to continue to explore. Some had suggested it over the years, but it made absolutely no sense when it came to the financial aspect of things.

  In its prime, the Skyla System took nearly a full week to fly through. That was in the fastest of ships and traveling at full-burn, or max speed.

  This was a different time, however, as their worlds had been overrun by walking dead. Infected that continued to grow its army with every human that fell in the fight against them.

  The remaining humans had mounted a last stand, which failed miserably. Their only option becoming one of jumping onto the remaining ships into orbit to regroup, which they had done. As if the Skyla System were a sinking ship with a handful of precious lifeboats to be had.

  Since hitting orbit, the fleet had been in disagreement on a single issue. To journey into the unknown black of uncharted space or stay close to home and reclaim what was theirs.

  Commander Dalton James had never seen himself in charge of so many lives. He'd lived by the seat of his pants and made questionable choices along the way. From rushing into larger groups of soldiers, guns a blazing – to bedding down a few women he'd wish to forget. Blame the whiskey.

  Dalton had, however, made the safest choice possible this time around. Send a craft into the unknown and look around. If resources that could support an entire race were to be had, they'd quickly relocate. But if the scouting mission showed no signs of hope, what choice did they have? It would be a matter of reclaiming their homes or die trying.

  “Kind of strange looking onto all of these new planets.” Craig admitted.

  “Absolutely,” Anna replied. “They look so beautiful. At the same time, who knows what may be lurking on each one?”

  “Damn sure isn't water,” Craig said with a chuckle. “I'm not showing any signs of oxygen either. I guess we keep going.”

  Which they did. The small phantom and its pitch black appearance gliding through uncharted space and pinging each of the planets which passed them by with a wave of technology that mapped everything. Terrain, viable resources, temperatures and even heat sources. Sources, which would indicate possible life.Adam sat quietly, thinking of his past as the small shuttle filled with tactical soldiers made its way. Coasting through the familiar stars of the Skyla System.

  He thought of much happier times. His crew of old and their clunker of a ship. It brought happiness to him for a moment, as memories of barely holding the ship together seemed like a calm time in his life.

  They had been anything but. Thoughts of gunfights and escaping the clutches of ruthless gangs, all in pursuit of a paycheck. Following service in the military, Adam and Dalton had put together a crew of their most trusted friends and began a life of crime. Though Adam never saw it that way.

  For him it was a chance to be a ship's captain. Something he'd always wanted to be. A dream in which he saw come true, though the ship was borderline salvage and its crew was, for better terms, a pack of outcast misfits.

  They'd become his family though, and you never forget the times spent with family.

  Adam remembered the very first time he laid eyes on Sarah Blaine. The circumstances were terrible – her delivery to a group of organized crime members simply a job which landed the entire crew much needed money.

  At least it should have.

  He knew right away that he'd scoop Sarah up and run. Adam had always been a sucker for the ladies, but, as if it were only yesterday, he thought about how intoxicating their first moments together were.

  Adam did just that. Bolted from the deal and went on the run, Sarah Blaine at his side and a wily crew at their backs. Eventually the two fell in love on the eve of civil war, and Adam found himself engaged to the daughter of a high-ranking Colonial officer. A man of true integrity.

  Soon after, their love began to sour. As thriving as their love had been, the fallout was just as strong. When it came down to it, he'd chosen his friends over the most explosive romance he'd ever known.

  Events began to unfold and Sarah found herself in the clutches of evil. Turned to the legion of undead and rising to become the queen of vampires, a champion by her side.r />
  She'd blamed Adam for every bit of it, and at times he'd blamed himself. Though he would never admit to it.

  The thing about soul mates is their paths continue to cross, no matter the circumstances. And cross they did. On opposite sides of a war between human and vampire as the fleet scrambled to assemble. Preparing to leave for orbit.

  The horde of undead had overrun humanity and became too powerful for even the vampires to survive, forcing the Hunters to retreat as well.

  In doing so, Sarah took the one thing Adam had continued to live for. His son.

  Adam hated himself for the fact that he continued to care for Sarah Blaine deeply, even under the circumstances. He wanted his son back, and that was a top priority. Deep down, however, he had remained madly in love with the woman who had captivated his heart long ago.

  The soldiers traveling with him were among the fleet's finest. Yet, deep down, Adam knew they wouldn't stand a chance against the Hunters. A race of vampires known for their brutality and lack of conscience.

  He'd have to appeal to Sarah directly. Plead with her heart and pray that a love which had changed both of them forever would be enough. His words would be a far greater weapon than the revolver he'd become so famous for.

  “You alright?” one of the soldiers asked as the shuttle streaked by a bright cluster of small rocks. Drifting in space and giving the look of a cloud.

  “Yea,” Adam replied. “Just something about traveling through space that makes me think about everything. It's always been that way for me.”

  “Same here buddy,” the young soldier replied. “Believe it or not, I had plans to retire from combat and go out on my own. Maybe put together a crew of buddies and start hauling freight commercially. Sounds crazy.”

  “Nope,” Adam replied, beginning to see himself in the young soldier a bit. Remembering the time when he had the same ambitions. A moment that would lead up to the best years of his life. “Sounds perfect.”

  “Well, it's a pipe dream now that we're overrun and without a home.” the soldier replied. He continued to talk, though Adam seemed to fade away from the conversation.

  His mind had traveled back to better times. Remembering the poker games and nights of drinking with Dalton. Adam thought of Kelly, his pilot, and other friends he'd lost along the way. Wondering how it had come to this. Surrounded by strangers and missing a son. His wife slain by the undead and a woman he once loved, now holding the keys to the next chapter in his life.

  Nothing in his life seemed to be the same, and Adam truly longed for those days to return. Although he knew there was no going back.“Relax dear, you're overreacting.” Cambria said, pressing against her lover's shoulders in an attempt to ease them.

  “I'm telling you,” Dalton replied as Cambria worked to calm him. “I'm not cut out for this commander shit.”

  “I disagree.” she said convincingly.

  “Of all the soldiers here, I get handpicked to lead the fleet. Why? Why me? What did I do?”

  “You make it sound as though it's a burden.” Cambria said, walking away a bit to collect two much needed glasses and a bottle of strong bourbon.

  “It is,” Dalton lashed out. “It's a damn burden from the time I wake up until the time I pass out at night. This song and dance of an officer, it ain't me. Takes everything I have to be all proper and fitting.”

  “Then don't be all proper and fitting,” Cambria said, handing the commander a stiff glass of hootch. “When I first met you, I had no idea what you were capable of. You looked homeless.”

  “This is supposed to make me feel better?” Dalton asked.

  “Yes,” she replied with a grin. “Because as I quickly got to know you, I realized you just didn't care about the opinions of others. I also felt safe around you because I understood you had the experience of ten men and knew how to use it. You took no lip and spoke your peace, no matter the company. And you cared about those around you.”

  Dalton seemed to slowly grasp her words. Though bourbon was also on his mind.

  “The point I'm trying to make is this. Don't let a uniform or the rules that go along with it change you. The best way to convince these people to follow you is to be yourself. People will respect you for it, and my guess is that's what got you picked in the first place.”

  “I guess so.” Dalton admitted.

  “Stop being what they want to you be and start being yourself. Hell, wear regular clothes and a homemade name tag if that's what it takes.”

  “You know, you're kind of sexy when you're lecturing me.” Dalton said with a grin.

  “Kind of?” Cambria asked.

  “Well yea, the kind of woman I'd like to get in the sack.” he quickly replied.

  “It depends.” Cambria said.

  “It depends?”

  “Yes,” Cambria replied. “It depends on the man I'm sleeping with. Is he going to be the trim and proper leader of humanity that decks out in Colonial blue...or will it be the old hound dog that's seen it all, done it all and sure does know his way around a bedroom?”

  His glance back to Cambria let her know the old hound dog was back. For better or worse, he'd lead these people with a clinched fist, brown coat and whiskey on his breath. After he took care of business behind closed doors.

  “We need thicker doors.” one of the posted soldiers remarked as Dalton and Cambria became loud and freakish. The door and walls separating him from the two makers of love seemingly very paper thin.

  “Just ignore it.” the other guard replied, though he understood it was going to be hard to do. The two had sex multiple times each day and weren't exactly quiet about it. Something that would no doubt lead to a lifetime of therapy for the posted guards.Craig found it hard to do his job as Anna slept. Watching over her with a peaceful smile.

  His love for her had grown since leaving nearly a day before. Now sharing the experience of a lifetime with the woman he'd fallen for in flight school.

  Still, Craig had a job to do. Pressing several buttons as the phantom floated lifelessly, he began mapping all of the stars around them. For concentration of rock, possibility of water and presence of oxygen.

  The mission was a simple one. Burst into full-burn for nearly an hour, which surrounded their ship with new stars. Then shut the ship down to conserve fuel while mapping everything digitally. What the phantom brought in terms of stealth, it lacked in size. That meant a shorter fuel tank, though it had been modified for this mission. Still, fuel was an issue early on and in order for the two person crew to make it as far as possible before turning back, they had to maximize fuel economy.

  And map he did, though Craig's attention remained on Anna too. Pressing the required buttons and letting the on board computers do the rest as he leaned back in the cushioned chair and watched her. Resting easy on the phantom's rack-style bed which mounted to the rear of the shuttle.

  He wanted to wake her up and confess his love. Though Craig could only begin to imagine how long the trip home would be if Anna didn't feel the same for him. There was no way he wanted to be floating through uncharted space with a woman who felt awkward around him.

  If he would ever tell her of his feelings, Craig would need to do it on the flight back. Once the work had been completed and he'd nothing to lose. A little humiliation, perhaps, but that was only in rejection and would certainly heal with time.

  For the moment, Craig would remain focused on the job at hand. Thousands of people back in the fleet depended upon him doing his job – on the two of them to find water. His personal feelings for a sleeping angel would have to wait.

  Though waiting was killing him.“Lieutenant Michaels,” one of the soldiers said, nudging Adam a bit. “Were making our approach now.”

  Adam sat up, squeezing his eyes a bit with rested hands and looking out from the small window placed in the crew area of the Colonial chopper.

  “Go in loud. It should draw Sarah and her group to our position.” Adam instructed.

  Radilia. A small moon planet
known for its simple way of life and farming communities that lived here. Used to live here, at least, before the infectious zombie nation overtook everything.

  Now Adam truly wondered what dangers awaited his crew, though his true concern was finding his son. Tracking the Hunters had proved more difficult than he'd ever have imagined. Adam only hoped that pleading his heart to Sarah, queen of vampires, would prove a bit easier. Though he knew it wouldn't.

  He prayed that one way or another, it ended today. On this small moon planet of blue and brown swirls – seen by the entire crew as their approach brought them closer. Magnifying the planet's textures and soon after, becoming larger than their field of vision. Wondering where he'd go from here if his son was not to be found. Another lead turning cold, as did many before.

  “What are you orders sir?” the pilot asked.

  “Once we hit soil, we'll break into two teams. Three of you will come with me while the rest stay close to the shuttle. We can't afford to lose our one and only ride off of this rock.”

  “Understood.”

  Regardless of what they said to his face, none of the crew wanted to come along with him and lose sight of their shuttle. They knew if any were to become stranded, there was a possibility of no rescue. Ever. The fleet had its own problems and Adam's mission was pretty much off of the books. They hadn't come along voluntarily, but been ordered to.

  “Rio, Hawk and Jackson, you three will be with me.” Adam said.

  Fuck. Rio thought, cursing the mission and everything about it. Just as he'd done since departing the fleet days ago.

  He was a great shot, no doubt, but should they become surrounded by vampires or infected, his battle rifle would be of little use. And he knew it.

  As the shuttle touched down, shaking the crew a bit more than the pilot had hoped for; Adam prepared for anything. Armed with a six-shooter revolver, which he'd become famous for among those around him.

  Many of the soldiers within the crew wondered about a man who brushed aside automatic weaponry as Adam did. Gravity fed magazine firing, which could have easily produced several hundred rounds a minute.

  Not Adam, it wasn't his way. He didn't spray and pray. Adam was a soldier who had been trained to question everything, seek answers and, if need be, skin the iron horse revolver from its holster and bring closure.