The Boy with No Name (Part 1 of 'A Tale of People and Apples' Trilogy)

Chapter 6: The Gun

63 years ago.

The discovery of the Gun changed everything.

Mayla had ingeniously created Nighthawk to leave the resource depleted planet, and the pirate colony called the Jackals, behind. Unbeknownst to Samuel and Mayla until a recent intelligence briefing, the Jackals had created a Gun hidden within one of their buildings, large and powerful enough to knock them out of the sky before they could escape the grip of the atmosphere.

It was a trap laid by the Jackals.

Now, Samuel was briefing his officials on what had to be done. A suicide mission, led by the bravest and best to disable the Gun at the very moment
Nighthawk took off. If they disabled it too early, the Jackals may send all their war machines upon where they thought Nighthawk was being constructed, and she wasn't yet complete.

John Gaiathal and Ffion Oddisy, Samuel's best soldiers and officials, didn't hesitate to volunteer. John was short in stature but his confidence and skill more than compensated. His short hair and black eyes fit him perfectly, quick and to the point.

The officers looked on in utter disbelief, giving uncomfortable chuckles at the black comedy of the situation, as John and Ffion flipped a coin for the opportunity to give their lives to save the people. Ffion called 'heads' as John flipped it, but he grinned at her when he lifted his hand.

He gave the golden coin that he flipped to Ffion, and she took it in her hands, her usual stern face was filled with disappointment and sadness, that a dear friend of hers was about to give his life for the people and that she couldn't match the sacrifice. John hugged her, and whispered something in her ear that comforted his comrade.

Samuel watched in admiration, despondency, and pride as his two peers and mentees were so willing to sacrifice themselves for the good of the people. It was a sentiment he was desperately trying to instil in everyone. He was clearly successful with these two warriors who stood in front of him.

Ffion came to Samuel after her exchange with John, and said, "After we are safe from the Jackals and I've served you as best I can, I will be stepping down as an official. With all due respect, sir, I was ready to die with John, and I believe it is our best chance at survival if you send us both to disable that Gun."

Samuel, surprised but understanding, responded, "Of course, Ffion. We all know you are just as willing as John, but please understand I cannot lose you both. I disagree with you. John will get it done. He always has. And the people may need you one day, when we are rid of the Jackals."

Ffion nodded again in disappointment, but conceded to her leader's commands.

"What will you need?" Samuel asked John.

John rubbed his face thoughtfully. "We'll move fast, can't risk detection. I'd say ten of the best you can give me. If we leave immediately, cutting through the mountains, take the train half way up to the mountains, taking the rest of the way on Shantle back... we could get there in less than a week and half, alternating sleep shifts."

Shantle's were slower than the Jackal's new arsenal of war machines, but they could scale rocks easily while the machines could not, and they could run about as fast as a human but rarely tiring.

John looked to Mayla. "We need weapons. Advanced weapons. Can you weaponize your Field technology into something hand-held?"

Mayla sighed. She wanted to do anything in her power to protect the people, but she knew the implications of building such devices and allowing them to fall into the wrong hands, potentially affecting other colonies of humans the Jackals could invade next after they blasted the people from the sky. This was a point she had tremendous difficulty relaying to soldiers like John.