The Stars Are For The Taking - A Short Story

A squadron of fighters surround the Nexus as her commander, Captain Farren, consulted the battle screen and began to formulate his retaliation when the ship's alarm broke his concentration. "Captain we've had a breach, aft section of supply," reported the XO.

"Where the hell is our cover?" he shouted. "Never mind I'll handle it," he declared as he hurried from the bridge.

Captain Farren heard the high pitch of energy being fired from laser pistols as he approached the supply bay. He entered and discovered it was now a battle field. At a less than hurried pace, he eyed a large shipping crate and as he hunched behind for cover he discovered a very nervous member of security cowered and in a state of anxiety. Captain Ferran read the fear in his face. "Son, give me your weapon," he ordered. The guard dutifully and happily tendered his laser pistol to his fearless captain. "Now, son I want you to guard this crate and don't let anyone near it. And if anyone comes near it you run for your life, you got me soldier?" he shouted over the din of the firefight with a masked disdain.

"Sir, yessir," replied the scared and dimwitted guard.

Captain Farren checked his borrowed weapon for charge—one hundred percent. The fool never even fired, he thought. With a quick survey of the area he formulated his path. By his guess there were twelve enemy soldiers in the bay. He counted fifteen of his own men and as far as he could see there were no wounded or dead. Is this a firefight or a pissing contest? he thought. He rounded the crate and put himself in clear shot of the enemy. A soldier appeared from behind some equipment and released a burst of energy in his direction. The captain dropped and rolled as he fired, picking-off the combatant. He jumped to his feet and in a squatted position scurried to another position and found himself behind another combatant. He fired two blind shots and moved on without a check to confirm if he had even hit the man. No need, he knew he was dead. A quick jaunt to a land crawler, he climbed and perched atop of the turret. Three quick shots sizzled passed his head. He spotted the originating point of origin and fired two quick bursts. The combatant went down. By his count three were down and based on the ongoing firefight the remainder full count were extant. Not one of his men had laid-out any combatants!

Now in optimum position with a birds eye view, he surveyed the area and noticed one combatant was preparing to move from his current position. He captured the attention of one of his men and hand signaled the combatant would soon be in view. The soldier understood and waited for his opportunity and as the combatant leaped from his position across the floor, the soldier picked him off, no trouble. That's four, the captain thought. A signal then to two soldiers opposite him to flank a crawler across the floor and indicated four combatants. With a quick acknowledgement they jumped to action and flanked the crawler to eliminate four more combatants. As the Captain surveyed he heard as slight noise from behind. A stray combatant had climbed the side of the crawler and had the captain in his sights. With a sudden jerk the captain snapped an antenna from the turret and whipped it across the combatant's face distracting him long enough for the captain to turn and fire. The headless combatant dropped to the floor.

Troops eliminated two more combatants while their captain was occupied leaving only one to contend with. Captain Ferran searched in vain for the remaining combatant as he was apparently hiding. He gave more hand signals to his troops that he would draw the combatant out by using himself as bait. The troops displayed apprehension when he gave the command. Captain Farren moved toward the perimeter of the open floor. He skulked obvious as it is quite a trick to look like you are not trying to be noticed when you really are. Troops scanned all corners and shadows for any sign of the elusive intruder.

Movement!—in the shadows! Troops moved behind and flushed the combatant and as he ran and clumsily looked for a new place to hide, the captain was there. He grabbed the man and forced him to the ground as he arm locked him then applied pressure as a shriek rang out. The captain looked him in the eyes. "How did you breach our codes?" he demanded. The man resisted. Captain Farren applied more pain in the form of pressure. "How?" he demanded. No response as the man had fear in his eyes but not enough to make him talk. With quick action the captain reversed his hold and managed a head lock. "If you don't tell me I'll snap your neck," he stressed as he applied more pressure causing excruciating pain.

"Sabastian," he whispered through his restricted airway.

The captain's grip on the man remained. "Thank you," he said then quickly increased pressure and broke the man's neck and guided his limp body to the floor. "Lieutenant, front and center," he barked.

The lieutenant hurried to attention and saluted. "Lieutenant Gerson reporting as ordered, sir," he dutifully replied.

"I want this mess cleaned up and the bodies spaced," he ordered.

"Sir, yessir," he responded and saluted then hurried the troops in clean-up.

Moments later Captain Farren entered the bridge. "Report," he ordered.

"All departments secure, sir," replied Commander Sabastian.

"Very good, very good," said the Captain as he moved to the battle screen and noticed a few ships remained. The firefight continued in space but the fighters were no match for the battle cruiser. He turned to his XO. "Commander, a word," he ordered as he headed for the fighter bay. The walk to the bay was silent. Sabastion knew something weighed heavy on the captain's mind so he kept his place and followed dutifully.

Upon entering the bay the captain made quick pace to the middle of the floor as Sabastian followed. "You see this?" he said emphatic as he looked around in an animated fashion.

Sabastion saw nothing but the usual fighter bay. "Sir?" he queried with a look of confusion.

The captain looked him in his eyes. "This place is a damned mess!" he barked then continued, "Look at those cables on the floor there. Look at that cargo compartment. Those crates are too close to the entrance..." He continued for a moment pointing out inconsistencies. He walked to the airlock, opened the panel and stepped in and began to point out minor smudge marks and little scratches on panels. "I want you to listen to this. Just wait here for a minute." The captain stepped from the airlock and closed the panel. Sabastian stood in the airlock a little confused. Captain Farren locked the airlock and peered through the panel window at Sabastian. "Did you think I wouldn't find out?" he said with contempt.

Sabastian stared at the captain's wild eyes. "You've gone too far this time, Jack. Now open the panel," he demanded.

"Your little fighter pilot gave you up, commander. You're the traitor around here and as of now, you are the ex-XO," he quipped as he entered the command to bypass decompression and opened the outer panel. The last thing he saw was a wide-eyed Sabastion being sucked into the cold, dark void of space. He turned and headed for his quarters.

Lieutenant Commander Wilkis commanded the bridge. "Commander?" beckoned the ensign.

"Yes, ensign," she replied.

"The captain requests your presence in his quarters, ma'am," informed the ensign.

"Thank you, ensign."

Moments later Commander Wilkis appeared in the doorway of the Captain's quarters. "Sir?" she queried as she entered.

The captain looked up in acknowledgement. "Commander, I've just filed your field commission as our new XO," he stated.

"Sir?" she prompted searching.

Commander Sabastian has been tried, found guilty and executed in the field for treason. You are now the new XO," he informed.

Commander Wilkis snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir, thank you, sir."

"At ease commander." The captain stood and turned to face the porthole and gazed into the vastness of space while searching the stars. "Commander, we've beaten every force that has dared challenge us. We are the superior race in this galaxy. Superior technology and superior intellect. I expect nothing but competence from your post. I will not tolerate mediocrity. Mediocrity gets everyone dead. We didn't come this far half-assing our way through the galaxy," he said as he turned to face his new XO. "The stars are for the taking, commander. They're, just waiting to be conquered," he said as pointed to space outside the ship then turned to face the porthole. "All it takes is superior fire power, a healthy resolve and a few lucky sons of bitches. Yes, these ar-" His words were cut short as Commander Wilkis drew her weapon and shot her captain point-blank in the back.

She looked down at his limp corpse. "Yes captain, the stars are for the taking."

art source: pic