Passion and Peril on the Frontier

Chapter 2

As the Excalibur ploughed through warp on its way to Nova Three, Prince Maxwell made his way to the ship's armoury.

He found Colonel Elliot and his marines in the Excalibur's small but well-stocked armoury, and they snapped to attention as he entered.

"At ease," he ordered, and the marines relaxed.

"Everything all good, your grace?" the Colonel asked and Maxwell nodded.

"Yeah, all good, just checking up," he assured.

There was an assortment of the marine's personal weapons on the table in front all them, and Maxwell ran his hand over a sleek, deadly-looking pulse rifle.

"This the new X7?" he asked, and Colonel Elliot nodded.

"Carbine version, your grace," he confirmed.

"May I?" Maxwell asked.

"Of course," said the colonel.

Maxwell picked the pulse rifle up and inspected it. It felt good in his hands; it was light and easy to use.

"Might have to get a couple for the armoury," he mused.

"I could put in a request," said Colonel.

"Appreciate the offer, colonel, but the guild boys wouldn't like that," said Maxwell with a grin.

All the weapons in the Excalibur's armoury were all custom-made and designed, each carefully handcrafted by the best expert weaponsmiths of the weaponers guild in the imperial city.

"You have a very impressive collection, your grace," said one of the marines, with the name Hicks stencilled on his armour.

"Yeah, not bad, but some are a little much," said Maxwell.

He pointed to a rocket launcher that was all shiny sliver with an open, snarling golden lion's mouth as its barrel.

"I don't know if it even fires; I never used it," said Maxwell, and the marines laughed.

"Your grace, may I ask a question?" The youngest marine then asked.

"Hudson" warned Colonel Elliot.

"No, it's all right; go ahead," said Maxwell.

"Is it true, you and Lady Ava stole a shuttle and crashed it when you were at the Academy?" asked Hudson.

The Marines all looked at him expectantly, and he chuckled.

"Yeah, we did actually, freshmen year, not exactly our finest hour," said Maxwell, and the marines all laughed.

It had been about six months into his first year, and he and Ava had snuck out of their dorms, stealing a shuttle on a dare from the other cadets but quickly crashing it into the sports field. If it had been an other cadet, they would have been swiftly expelled, but Ava came from a powerful family, and Maxwell was the son of the empress.

"Well gentlemen I'll leave you too," said Maxwell, and the marines nodded.

He left them to their duties and returned to the bridge.

"Good timing; we're coming up on the Nova system," said Ava as he stepped onto the bridge.

"Excellent," he said and took his seat.

"May I suggest going to yellow alert and cloaking the moment we drop out of warp?" suggested Ava.

"Probably a good idea; do it," said Maxwell.

They soon dropped out of warp and were greeted by a lush blue and green world, not unlike Avalon prime itself. Dalton quickly cloaked the Excalibur, and it shimmered away, now invisible from sight and all sensors.