I watched Barstow's log countless times. Nothing showed signs the Cirin Severed were working with the High Generals at all. Barstow gave me nothing besides more questions. I remember staring at the security monitor watching him rive against his chains, like a maddened animal. With an appalling since of duty I accessed my comms, "P.T.S Station Atlas, this is the Gilded Pelican, please respond. P.T.S Station Atlas, this is 497 Gilded Pelican please respond." "Gilded Pelican, This is P.T.S Station Atlas this is a military channel," "Yeah Atlas I know, My name is Commander George Jurgen I'll be arriving in the next few minutes with a high ranking prisoner." "Uh, Yes Sir, Right away sir." As the line went dead I fastened into the shuttles seat, looking out over the still channel I realized I'd grown used to this place. I raised my hand to the console and transferred funds to Clark my assistant's account. After all he did put up with my antics. No more reason to delay I engaged the engines and raised the throttle lifting the shuttle from the ground. The shuttle gave almost no resistance as we lifted up and free of the city's airspace. Once free I opened her up, the engines roared to life with a vigorous lurch. Within moments we were gliding into a high atmosphere, Barstow below decks of sound proof floors screamed and thrashed the whole way. Atlas Station orbited a perfect polar orbit, giving it, its name. We arrived quickly as I expected. The Station itself was a reflection of every other P.T.S station.
After docking I headed down to the cargo bay, there sat Barstow by this point he had worn himself out attempting to escape. He proved he could escape and hide quite well. Out of curiosity I used my T.A.L.I.S to attempt to access his, I found my first surprise Barstow didn't have a T.A.L.I.S chip. This intrigued me, "Where is your chip Barstow?" "Chip? O the implant. I joined three years ago, they never injected us only those who joined this year." He seemed docile exhausted and reserved, this threw my guard up. I moved in quickly and as I predicted he lurched free of his bonds towards me. I dived low catching him off his guard at the knees. Barstow tried to get back up quick but I stayed down waiting for that. As he rose it was to the bottom of my size twelve boot. My kick landed beautifully knocking him directly back. "When did you get this good?" He asked cheaply. "I'm not playing anymore Barstow, get up again and you will be lucky to get out of this cargo hold." He seemed to take my words into some thought for a moment, but whether stupidity or a desire to escape or die he didn't. Making his way to his feet Barstow grabbed a Tie bar for a weapon. He rushed me and sounded powerfully right, I just leaned left and struck his arm twice. The first strike was full force above his elbow causing the arm to shoot up and forward. Wrapping the same hang around his arm my next strike landed in the now tensioned opposite side of the joint causing an instant snap. His arm now hanging free Barstow attempted to headbutt me, again I just leaned back this time letting go of his arm and striking his solar plexus and then his right jaw just in front of the jaw joint. To this Barstow's eyes rolled free in their socket and he fell like rock. Not moments later did the docking door open and a group of armed P.T.S officers marched In. "Officers, I believe this is one of the terrorists you were looking for." An obviously high ranking officer took and scanned Barstow's i.d then looked at me shocked. "Where did you find him?" "You know the strangest thing I was on earth and a little French birdie brought him right to my lap." I said with a laugh that the man obviously doesn't get. "Just make sure he makes it trail." "I need you to sign off on his release." "Huh, umm just put down Trevor, he will love that." "What was that?" "O fine here." I took the release statement and signed in large print PRINCESS Trevor Reklen. The offices looked at it and could barely keep his face straight. I thought it would be fun especially after learning Trevor's last name when we last met.I didn't say much more to them there was no need. I waited for them to disembark than I launched and headed For Lab H.
The trip took a day with jump cool downs in this shuttle, not bad time but not great. So for the time I enjoyed the restocked amenities, and wondered about the passageways of the ship. Being alone has always brought me comfort now more than ever. Save Bart and Clemmons everyone I worked with and trained is dead. It was a sobering thought one that would plague
my dreams and nights to come. This night was peaceful, not silent. Every ship creaks, pops and groans with the stress of flight. No more still as if everything had come to a stop just long enough to inhale, it was beautiful. I was not bothered by patrols even just left to drift while I waited for the engines to recharge, I remember staring at a decent nebula or galaxy a reddish purple like cloud so far away it looked like part of a backdrop.
Wondering through the shuttle at zero gravity I lost my sense of time. I was drawn back to reality by the ticking of a red coms light. Curious I accessed it via my T.a.l.i.s, "Hey boss, just wanted to let you know I'm still alive. I took your advice and slowed down and opened a small race track here with the money they gave me. Who knows if this will reach you just-" 'Emergency disconnect'. I awoke to my head ringing and the console sparking. The view port was hissing out, I dived toward the cargo bay without thinking. First hall thirteen steps, just as predicted I turned to the space suit."Shit! Agha can I just get a break?" I screamed as I hurriedly slipped on my suit. The ship was mostly stable though leaking life support from the bridge. I headed up the bridge, which was as I left it.Tools and repair supplies in hand I set to patching the fractures in the haul. I remember being agitated with the abundance of time it took for a simple patch to set. The main computer was shot luckily the back up systems would run most functions the pilot couldn't manually handle. I finally had a chance to find out what happened, spending more precious time I analyzed the outer haul and inner haul and found that some metals in the alloy were super heated than instantly cooled. This is rare but can happen from intense Solar Flares, sadly I was not entirely sure that I spent nearly a day on this research, once I was freed of the shuttle. Without engines or satellite connection I was forced to wait for the patch to finish before I could re-ignite the reactor and get out of here. I remember wandering the ship back and forth impatiently checking time, only to be further enraged by its lack of passage. After the repairs set, I powered up the main engine and prepared to jump Toward Martian orbit. Even at max jumps this Shuttle would turn ten jumps to reach Mars. Having half hazardously jumped the first five I had to take it slower with the last five. Yes still at around twenty three hours I excited my final jump into an orbit around the red planet. Home was a gorgeous site, I never thought I would miss the red rocky sands patched by small sections of vegetation in the terraforming zones. Each zone is separated by factories and o2 manufacturing sites. I wished I had time to go visit my old town, see my old lab and maybe gather some of the research projects I had to abandon to start work at Lab H. I knew I needed to get back, the Lab should have finished construction. Add In Larson's desire to push things at break neck speed. Without guidance disaster was moments away. Adjust the shuttles or I made my way to O.D Thirty Five, Orbital Dock Thirty Five. No matter my rush this shuttle needed some serious repairs before I could risk breaking free of another orbit. Docking with the station the station tower cleared me off. I leaned back pulling my hands through my hair before I drew myself from my seat heading down to the loading bay doors. Now the task of finding a Engineer presented itself. I knew this station mostly by passing, a population of a couple million. The civilian ran Import and Export station was another of the post war creations, Built to handle the mass rebuilding of Mars. The station may have been aging but you couldn't tell moving around from section to section. Finding Engineers up here isn't as easy as purchasing a new ship. However do to not wanting to spend my own pocket money a engineer it was. Walking down the Dock district brought me outside 'Tinkerer's Habit'. I headed in, The garage was much cleaner than I expected, auto drones zipped by left and right moving and fixing things. Behind the counter a young man in a company uniform greeted me. "Hello sir, Welcome to Tinkerer's Habit, what can I help you with?" "Yea I hit a solar flare fried some of my electronics and may have melted my haul, I may also have over cooked the jump drive a bit." "Well your not the only one, seems no one paid heed to the solar reports." The young man said mockingly as he checked off marks on the list. "Looks like you are going to be looking at seventy thousand, roughly that's not including any extra work. Should take about three days to finish." "Three Days! Holy hell, you even have drones?!" I was obviously upset but he just blinked at me. "Do you want us to work on your shuttle or not?" Grumpling I pulled free the ships green chip -licensing chip- presenting it a smile formed. "Run the chip it will tell you were to send the bill." Without another word I turned and left. I only realy had a few souvenirs from Chanel City and my Microrail which was recovered from my room. Easily carried in my military drop pack, carbon fiber hardened backpacks designed to survive reentry even if the wearer burns to a crisp. Taking my belongings I headed to a restaurant and than wondered around the floating city. Mostly a shipping hub the facilities here are made to cater to those coming and going so not much for one like myself. Ladies and Men sell their services for a night or two, even mercenaries hang around the Docks and Clubs. One could find many things here most illegal somewhere. Not heavily interested in these I made my way to one of the ship bays, No way I was waiting Three days for a two hour flight. The shipyard was dingy at best A section of the docks bought and separated to store new but mostly used shuttles I managed to walk into the dock section without being bothered. Most of the Shuttles where Martian Transfer series or MTS shuttles, large bulky basicaly flying bricks. Pushing further into a new docking back I found a few famley shuttles, small shuttles with expanded Jump drives made to make trips from Mars to Earth in theoretical ease. Almost no models sold do to price and complications with gravity transfer. The last hanger held Civilian defense craft, typicaly small and deployed to protect freighters these craft normaly dont even have jump drives. However at the back of the hanger something cuaght my eye, a cresent shaped craft with a lifted center cockpit. The Eclipse Intercestper, I didnt need my T.A.L.I.S to tell me about this beauty. Medium sized shuttle capable of equivalent jumps. A assortment of weaponry was deployed on these Shuttles, one of the few interceptors that could double function as a shuttle do to it's size. Crew would consist of the primary pilot, and his three support crew. Though one man could handle the ship, others were later added as its roles increased.
I approached the ship and attempted to acces any computer systems left in hibernation mode. My proving resulted in nothing besides background static loud enough to shatter glass, in fact the entire time I had been on the station my T.A.L.I.S chip had been having mild hiccups. I was busy attempting to quell the noise in my head, so much so I had failed to notice the proprietor walking up behind me. Startled I spun around to be met by a large metal cylinder with arms, The object approached me, I heard distant muffled voice inside the Robot. I had just opened my mouth to ask what and why, as the metal cylinder slide open revealing a screen with a tiny old women on it. "Oooo, A military man! Dont you have your own fancy ships?!" The old women on the screen remarked. "I could leave if you prefer?" I motioned toward the door, to which the robot quickly got in front of. "No, Not at all, I was only surprised young one." Her bot moved closer as she changed the subject, "I see you found our Eclipse, beauty isnt she?" I stayed silent turning my back to the bot I walked forward observing it closer. "No score Mark's or gouges, I'm pretty sure I don't even see a reentry burn mark. Where did you find one so pristine?" By this time I had wondered a good way toward the front of the vessel still not there yet. "O I have my ways young one, This one was found orbiting near the ort-cloud . Engines were long cold seemed the crew lept free of a Cirin patrol only to be left without fuel or resupply. Well their loss your gain right?" I nodded absently as I admired the ship. "I wont go over seventy five thousand." I said bluntly. "Why you?! Why should I cut it so low?" The bot was now rushing forward a bit responding to its owners anger. "How about those military weapons on the civilian defense ships? Wouldn't my bosses seeing those?" I smirked, she may squirm a bit more but the ship was mine. "Your a mean one kid. Can't you cut a old sick lady a break?" "Sick I'm sure your probably at the bar." With a few more grumbles about me being a lowlife she agreed to eighty thousand. I happily transferred the credits and even gave her a few extra for fuel. I happily climbed into my vessel, the inside was dusty and had not been altered much from when it was discovered. I went from room to room making a mental map with T.A.L.I.S, besides loading a cargo bay the shuttle sported a small Galley and six rooms equipped. Heading to the cockpit was interesting as it ment raising through the few tiers if the smaller shuttle. The level below the cockpit had three chairs set at diffrent consoles, these where the other crew positions. The cockpit itself was quite small only one chair most of the controls were readily available. Switching on the engines the craft hummed, with almost no effort I pushed the throttle and lifted the control stick to rise above the dock. The vessel responded perfectly and fluidly. Without waiting for clearance I slammed the throttle down and blew free of the station happy to be free of the uncultured masses.
Now Speedily on my way back to Lab H I had time to contact Lieutenant Miller, I had left in her charge of logistical affairs as she had more than enough knowledge in engeering to design it herself if she needed to. Contacting Lab H was not as easy as picking up a comm and connecting to the net, no Lab H was off the net almost fully so that ment I couldnt even use T.A.L.I.S to get acces, instead I would have to bounce a signal off the old mars Web net satellite's, going through the long connecting process was by far this worst part of the trip. After only being disconnected three times I found a stable link. "Hello, This is George Jurgen, Director of operations. Pass code 345276." I didn't wait long till my comms sprang to life. "Director, This is Tower Control we have confirmed your pass code where would you like to be directed?" "Lieutenant Miller please, and prepare a dock for me I should arrive in two hours." "Yes sir Connecting you now, dock Three will be made available for your convenience." "Aprciated." The line buzzed for a moment before Miller responded. "Yes? George are you there?" She said in obvious haste. "Yes it's me Miller, How are things going smoothly I hope? Did Orion Arms and Atlas Construction hold up their contracts?" "Everything has gone well, save for a few minor incidents, the Lab has been successfully lowered via orbital drop and was brought online three days ago. As such I have yet to approve any of the experiments." I felt the smile drag across my face the idea of being back in the Lab excited me. "Sounds like I am getting back just in time." "Back what about your mission?" "How do you know about that?" I retorted. "The General was heard yelling throughout command something about you not taking care of it soon enough. That's all he said before he hurried off in a huff but that was enough to start the Rumor down the grape vine." I listened without inturption as she explained this. "Sounds like I'll need to contact him directly than. Thanks Miller keep things moving till I get back and give the Scientist the back log of experiments till I get back in contact." "Sir?" "I think the general has one more task for me before I come home." I could feel and here the sad tinge that held on my voice. "Redirect me to Command they can link me to the General." "Will do Sir Miller over and out."
I remember being hesitant, not out of fear but exhaustion. I had truly hoped this was the end of the of my journey as a soldier. That was not my fate, I awaited the comm link as the signal gave a fading pulse. Suddenly the comm sprang to life, "Director Yurgin?" The soldiers hurried voice asked. "Yes, Identification 345276," "Cleared what can I do for you director?" "I need to be transfered to the generals personal comm." "Right away sir." With a click the comm line transfered over. About an hour passed still in orbit around the martian moon, I couldn't wait to be on my way somewhere.
Again the comm sprang back to life, "George? Damn man I just got your report. I sent you out there to get some training to bring back our Quarry!" "No need to shout" I enturupted the general enraging him further. This lead to him breathing heavily into the comm like some sort of animal, so I turned him off. Having reacted out of disgust at the noise I did not even realize what I had done untill a moment later as the thought of him yelling "GEORGE!" into his desk comm made me burst out laughing. My joy was enturupted by my own comm trilling. I turned it on while having T.A.L.I.S turn down my hearing perception. "George, If you turn that comm off again I'll shoot your ass down. " I did my best to stifle my laughter and failed mostly. "O, I understand sir." After clearing my throat again. "I apologize sir, however you sent me to that experiment you called boot camp. I recognized the obvious test groups early on, Barstow verified it. Did you learn what you want?" I stopped myself, there was almost nothing stopping him from destroying my shuttle. "Figured it all out did you? Yes half the men in your boot camp had no T.A.L.I.S units. Yes we pitted both of your groups against each other to test the new technology. Not that anyone was rushing to sign up for those tests." "You don't deny it?" " And why should I? They got the job done and proved that the technology works. Now enough of this, You still have a job to do. We have located the alien vessel near a far reach station, just past pluto. You will meet a forward team and intercept the alien vessel. Now go bring them in before they start a war." His voice never broke it's gruff forward tone. Yet even than, here was the evidence I needed but it meant nothing as he admitted nothing directly. I was so angry I was nearing tears, "Ye, Yes sir I will plot coarse right away sir. " I managed to blurt out as I maneuvered to break free of my drifting orbit.
The Crescent shuttle was never fueled for long flights, so regratably I had to dock at the relay station again. I kept it simple just fuel. I could always restock my food supplies at a P.T.S station along the way. Once the refuel was finished I Set my jump range to maximum and head out.