The United Nations Space Program, or UNSP, was forty-two years old. It had launched countless interplanetary exploration vessels and colony ships, and three Interstellar Explorators. The grudging cooperation of Earth’s nations had finally paid off with the development of “Slipspace” technology, allowing humanity to finally bridge the gap between stars. Three years ago, in 2163, the first extra-solar colony was established on a small, earth-like planet named Haven. Humanity was finally living out it’s dream of going to the stars. This is where our story begins.
High above the towering spires of New York city, Allen Klein and Logan Hancock sped skyward in a surface-to-orbit elevator. Klein was a military man, in his late forties. His companion had graduated from the Prague Engineering Institute with a degree in Experimental Development six years before, and had a hand in the most recent innovations to Slipspace engines. The two had met during a conference in Tokyo in 2161, during a lecture theorizing use of Slipspace technology in weapons systems.
“Discovery. Sure is an interesting name for a warship” Logan commented. His heavy brow wrinkled. “You would think that the brass would choose a name more warlike. Heck, the Valiant was an exploration vessel, and here we are finally getting a decent warship, and what do they call it? Discovery”
Klein stood, hands clasped behind his back, observing the receding skyline. “It’s officially a modified Explorator, not a warship, Logan” He paused. “…but you’re right, it is odd.”
“You and I both know that the only reason it’s not called a warship is to keep the media off our backs. What with the tensions on Europa… The last thing the Haven colony needs to hear is that the Sol system is preparing for Civil War.”
“There’s no guarantee any of the other Solar colonies will side with Europa”
“Allen, stop using the media face. Pluto and Charon have already backed up their claims in the UN, and most of Jupiter and Saturn are following suit.”
Klein sighed. “We have no direction as a race anymore. Until the Challenger established Haven, humanity had a universal goal to look at. Now that we’ve met that goal, there’s nothing to do but go back to bickering.” He turned away from the window, which was now darkening as they moved through the upper atmosphere into space. “Sometimes I wonder if we were ready for this.”
“For what?”
“Leaving Earth. Exploring the universe beyond our little corner. It wouldn’t be the first time science outpaced maturity.”
Logan stroked his jet-black goatee thoughtfully. “Nuclear weapons are one thing though. Slipspace is a technology for movement, not destruction.”
“Not anymore”
The war had been long and costly. By 2092, only twenty percent of Earth’s population still remained. Over the next year, an additional eight percent would die to radiation exposure. That was when the United Nations declared all countries to be one, and set up a new democracy to unify the survivors of what some had called “The Nuclear Apocalypse”.
It was regarded as Earth’s darkest time, and Andrea Stewart remembered it well. She had been seventeen when she was put into Cryogenic stasis, in 2089. Sixty-eight years later, the stasis bunker she had been placed in was finally cracked open during an archeological expedition. Thrust into a world full of new and exciting technologies, Andrea enjoyed it all, at the cost of a social life. By the time she was twenty-one, however, she had gained enough reputation to be given command of a small research vessel studying Jupiter for colonization of it’s atmosphere.
It was no surprise to her, then, when two years later, the UNSP recalled her to earth for a new and prestigious assignment. As the only “Apocalypsite” to have gained any ground in the technical fields, she had been assigned to the position of Executive Officer aboard the newest Explorator vessel – Discovery. The name had a wonderful sound to it, but it hid a ghastly interior.
Andrea banished the thought from her head. It was difficult enough to fight back recurring memories of Nuclear strikes from her mind, and recent developments only served to make it harder. She looked down at her uniform and smoothed out the wrinkles again, then checked her watch. They should be here already.
Suddenly the airlock began to hum, and she started, instinctively jumping to salute. She felt a lock of hair fall out of place and silently cursed herself as the door opened, revealing two men. The first was tall, with a military gait about him. His uniform had several medals pinned to it, and he held himself with an air of cool intellect.
His companion, a man of average height and weight, had fire in his eyes that seemed like it would never be extinguished. He walked with a bit of arrogance, as if he knew more about the world than anyone else in it, and was waiting for you to ask.
“Captain on deck!”
Klein returned her salute. “As you were, Commander Stewart. May I present our Engineering Officer, Lieutenant Hancock”
Logan gave her a cold nod. She returned with a nod and a rather curt “Lieutenant.”
After what seemed like an hour, Klein spoke again. “If you don’t mind guiding us to the bridge, Commander.”
Andrea nodded. “Yes sir.”
The launch had gone as expected; pomp and ceremony, with all the political undertones. Klein was glad to be out of the Solar System; all the politicians made him sick. Their first destination was to be Haven, about three days out from Earth. The trip was mostly political as well, just to let the colonists know that Earth was capable of producing a ship like Discovery.
So far, the trip had been tense. Although the entire crew was considered loyal to Earth and the United Nations, there was still dissent as to what should be done about the insurrectionists, and Hancock and Stewart were at the top of it all.
Klein sighed and picked up the photo on his desk. It was a picture of his young daughter, age 14. She was being taken care of by her aunt on Titan. He wasn’t happy about the location, but he had no other option.
“What would you do if it were your decision?”
His thoughts were interrupted by the door chime. “Come in.”
The door slid open and Commander Stewart stepped in, all business as usual. She carried herself with an air of arrogance around him and other officers, but he had noticed that she got on very well with the crewmen. It made the atmosphere on the bridge incredibly tense, but certainly kept crew morale up.
“We’ll be collapsing our slip envelope in 5 minutes sir. We should be within communications range of the Haven colony upon deceleration.”
“Thank you commander, I’ll be on the bridge shortly.”
A tense silence passed between the two. Klein was patient, and gave her his best “interested” look. She started to fidget until finally everything came out explosively.
“Sir, I wish to protest the use of this ship. There are only two other Explorators available to the UN, why is this one being relegated to defense? We have the ability to explore the galaxy, and we sit here playing big brother to the colonies.”
Klein smiled. “Your point, although blunt, is viable commander”
Stewart looked taken aback, and Klein decided to push the advantage.
“This ship is classified as an Explorator, but is being used by politicians to hold the threat of annihilation over entire worlds. I know you lived through the Apocalypse – That’s the reason I requested you as my first officer. I wanted someone who has experience with this kind of destruction.”
“Sir, no one has experience with this kind of destruction.”
“Not on this scale, you’re right. But you’re the closest the fleet has to an expert. Not only that, but you recognize the difference. You don’t, however, have much experience in where politics are now, and I want you to understand that firing on a colony very well may be something this ship has to do”
“It had better not be sir. Nothing deserves the destruction this ship can bring.”
Klein sighed again, moving toward the door. “Commander, I share your loathing for destruction. I have a daughter on Titan. Her mother was killed two years ago in the Phobos Massacre. Understand that I will not give the order to fire unless I deem it absolutely necessary. And that I expect you to carry out that order no matter your personal feelings.” He stood in front of her at the door. “Am I clear?”
Stewart caved, if only slightly. “Yes sir. I apologize if I have offended you.”
The two walked out into the hallway. “Not at all, Commander. I understand where you’re coming from, that’s why I wanted you on board. To have someone to keep me in balance.”
Andrea fell behind as the impact of the statement hit her. She had been chosen. Handpicked, by a military man, on a military ship. Maybe her first impressions had been wrong. Hancock, however… She still wasn’t sure about him.
Still, a captain whose life would be directly impacted by civil war… That changed things significantly. Perhaps, she thought, this mission might end positively after all.
That was her last thought before an explosion rocked the ship and flung her into a wall headfirst, and her world turned black.