Gabatrix: Veleshar

Chapter 7: Routine Life on a Warship Part 2

11 Earth years ago.....

In the darkness of space lies a single planet and its moon that orbit a distant orange star. The hazy purple, watery world of Zhav'Tren lies ahead. The capital planet of the Gok'Shinta subclan is one of the two most important worlds of the Shal'rein. Countless purple-colored warships dot the scene, but freighter traffic seems to be almost nonexistent.

Two colossal orbital shipyards almost block out the mostly ocean-covered surface. The floating platforms are so large in size that they cast a small shadow over the planet. Special vents would be made to help open at specific time periods to help regulate the world's global temperatures. The Trasa shipyards had seen their share of violence, being destroyed once during the rise of the Jalgren Empire but ultimately rebuilt anew after the Rototrein Rebellion.

The scene zooms closer and closer to the orbital platform, where much can be seen. There are numerous alcoves. Battleships and dreadnoughts perforate each of these construction bays, being under construction or nestled for repair and resupply. Numerous gun batteries, lights, and small craft can be seen flying around, almost as if it's a city in itself. The entire surface of artificial construction must span for thousands of kilometers in one direction alone.

Upon zooming in closer and closer to the northernmost platform, a dreadnought can be seen slowly moving toward it. There seems to be no sign of physical damage on the vessel, yet the ship has to be tugged home.

The pair of tugs aren't very large, being not much bigger than a shuttlecraft. They have grappled onto the front midsection of the mighty warship, where its clawed arms neatly grasp it in its slow, guided journey to port. The long purple blocky cylindrical dreadnought consists of two dual very heavy railguns mounted on its mid-dorsal and ventral sides. Numerous guns and short-range missile launchers dot the sides where it meets up to a dorsal and ventral bridgehead in the front bow. The two centripetal rings still spin together near the ship's mid-rear section as navigation lights flash, warning other ships of the towing job in progress.

It doesn't take long before the scene zooms through one of these rotating rings. Slipping past the armor manifolds is a habitable walkway. A simple reorientation of the view can show a livable environment. It's not much different than how the Gular'shel's habitat ring was established. However, the walkways are more straightforward. A similar line of watery pipes and organic-looking veins line the bulkheads, leading to various enclosed rooms on the left and right sides.

In the loneliness of the straight upward curved path of the ring's walkway was a pair of Shal'rein. One was Veleshar, dressed in her purple and black, almost skintight uniform. She was aside Gular'shel, dressed in his white, black and slightly purple studded caped attire. His uniform consisted of a block of ribbon medals and his holstered firearm. The head covering that Gular'shel wore did not hide the fact that some of his straight purple hair was falling off.

Veleshar had a look of concern on her face as if she were slightly distressed. Gular'shel was staggering at times in how he walked. His webbed orange wrapped feet almost seemed to buckle at times as the man was doing his best to maintain his walk. On his exposed skin, there were signs of small dark lesions growing on his hands, snout, and tail. There was even a hint of dried blood on his clothing.

Despite this, Gular'shel remained strong. His left hand consisted of a wooden walking cane that helped keep him from toppling over. Yet, this wasn't enough to assure Veleshar's feelings that her mate could keel over at any minute. Her left arm was wrapped around Gular'shel's to help give extra leverage in how they moved together.

"Not much further...," Veleshar said in English to Gular'shel. The sound of anguish was in her voice.

"When will the...?" Gular'shel calmly tried to ask as he momentarily coughed. "When...we dock?"