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Authors: Michael Kan
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“Damn,” he finally said.
“I’m sure you heard the news about the Endervar shield.” The colonel said. “I wish we were planning an operation like that. But we aren’t.”
“What do you mean?” Julian asked. “Once the shield fully goes up, there’s no way to break it.”
“We all know that,” the colonel barked. “My goddamn wife and kids are there. I bet your family is there too.”
The colonel struck the table with his hand, shutting down the holographic image of Julian’s service record. He shook his head, mumbling curses through his teeth.
“Nverson, our man power is at an all-time low. We lost over 70 percent of our fleet in the attack on Haven. There’s no way we can stage a counterattack or even hope to win it. Shit. The enemy really fucked us this time. Even if we were at full strength, we’d still be no match for the Endervars.”
Julian expected as much. The once mighty SpaceCore had been turned into a shell of its former self.
“I know the protocol, but isn’t there something we can do?”
The colonel’s gaze fell down at the mess of data chips and reports sprawled over the table, seeing only uncontrollable turmoil.
“Nverson, the SpaceCore has to deal with sending what we project to be 10 to 12 million survivors to somewhere safe. We are not abandoning anyone. We are just saving what we can, and making sure we don’t lose any more people.”
Julian wanted to say more, but the colonel would not have it.
“Listen. I got my orders. And now you will have yours. End of discussion,” the colonel demanded. Julian bit his lip, trying to calm himself down.
“Because of the Endervar invasion, we lost many of our best pilots. I’ve been scrounging around, trying to find people with the skills to help us do some flying. So I’m happy as hell you came in today,” the colonel said.
“Anyways, I’m promoting you to starfighter captain immediately,” he added.
“What?” Julian said, nearly getting up from his seat. “That’s fast.”
“Hey we need you. We need you now.”
“But when I was with the Core, the highest I got up to was squadron leader. And you know how that turned out.”
“Yeah I do know. But that shit happens. More importantly, it’s in the past. Your most recent psych report says you are ready for duty again.”
Julian protested, but the commander would still not have it.
“You are Captain Nverson now. It doesn’t mean I’m going to have you out there commanding a whole damn fleet. But I need experienced hands to get some of this tough shit done. Alright?”
“Listen,” the colonel continued. “I’m sorry we didn’t draft you weeks earlier. Then you would have been there at Haven. But that was a goddamn massacre. I want to take the fight to those fuckers. But that’s not the reality we are in. We lost. Now I need you to help us salvage what is left. If you don’t, then you’ve just abandon the people who need you.”
“But the Alliance,” Julian shot back. “Can’t they do something? Our window to take back Haven, it’s not going to last. The Endervar shield—”
“I know dammit. But we can’t do anything about Haven. The goddamn Alliance is sitting on their hands. We’re lucky they didn’t just obliterate the place to prevent the Endervar spread. If I hear something different I will let you know. But for now, you are a captain. We’ll get your duties ready tomorrow. I’m not sure what we got. We need escorts, scouts and even people to fly ships to Isen to get these civilians out of here.”
“We need you,” the colonel added. “What’s left of Haven needs you. We have to do whatever we can to survive.”
Julian meekly nodded. The colonel then handed him a data chip.
“You are to report at Ops tomorrow. Hopefully, your orders will be ready. For now report to FR to get your uniform, and associated security creds,” the colonel said.
Julian then did something he hadn’t done in years. “Yes sir,” he said, standing at
“I’m sure you heard the news about the Endervar shield.” The colonel said. “I wish we were planning an operation like that. But we aren’t.”
“What do you mean?” Julian asked. “Once the shield fully goes up, there’s no way to break it.”
“We all know that,” the colonel barked. “My goddamn wife and kids are there. I bet your family is there too.”
The colonel struck the table with his hand, shutting down the holographic image of Julian’s service record. He shook his head, mumbling curses through his teeth.
“Nverson, our man power is at an all-time low. We lost over 70 percent of our fleet in the attack on Haven. There’s no way we can stage a counterattack or even hope to win it. Shit. The enemy really fucked us this time. Even if we were at full strength, we’d still be no match for the Endervars.”
Julian expected as much. The once mighty SpaceCore had been turned into a shell of its former self.
“I know the protocol, but isn’t there something we can do?”
The colonel’s gaze fell down at the mess of data chips and reports sprawled over the table, seeing only uncontrollable turmoil.
“Nverson, the SpaceCore has to deal with sending what we project to be 10 to 12 million survivors to somewhere safe. We are not abandoning anyone. We are just saving what we can, and making sure we don’t lose any more people.”
Julian wanted to say more, but the colonel would not have it.
“Listen. I got my orders. And now you will have yours. End of discussion,” the colonel demanded. Julian bit his lip, trying to calm himself down.
“Because of the Endervar invasion, we lost many of our best pilots. I’ve been scrounging around, trying to find people with the skills to help us do some flying. So I’m happy as hell you came in today,” the colonel said.
“Anyways, I’m promoting you to starfighter captain immediately,” he added.
“What?” Julian said, nearly getting up from his seat. “That’s fast.”
“Hey we need you. We need you now.”
“But when I was with the Core, the highest I got up to was squadron leader. And you know how that turned out.”
“Yeah I do know. But that shit happens. More importantly, it’s in the past. Your most recent psych report says you are ready for duty again.”
Julian protested, but the commander would still not have it.
“You are Captain Nverson now. It doesn’t mean I’m going to have you out there commanding a whole damn fleet. But I need experienced hands to get some of this tough shit done. Alright?”
“Listen,” the colonel continued. “I’m sorry we didn’t draft you weeks earlier. Then you would have been there at Haven. But that was a goddamn massacre. I want to take the fight to those fuckers. But that’s not the reality we are in. We lost. Now I need you to help us salvage what is left. If you don’t, then you’ve just abandon the people who need you.”
“But the Alliance,” Julian shot back. “Can’t they do something? Our window to take back Haven, it’s not going to last. The Endervar shield—”
“I know dammit. But we can’t do anything about Haven. The goddamn Alliance is sitting on their hands. We’re lucky they didn’t just obliterate the place to prevent the Endervar spread. If I hear something different I will let you know. But for now, you are a captain. We’ll get your duties ready tomorrow. I’m not sure what we got. We need escorts, scouts and even people to fly ships to Isen to get these civilians out of here.”
“We need you,” the colonel added. “What’s left of Haven needs you. We have to do whatever we can to survive.”
Julian meekly nodded. The colonel then handed him a data chip.
“You are to report at Ops tomorrow. Hopefully, your orders will be ready. For now report to FR to get your uniform, and associated security creds,” the colonel said.
Julian then did something he hadn’t done in years. “Yes sir,” he said, standing at
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