Galaxy Among Us: General

Evaluation

I sit for what seems to be hours, but are merely milliseconds. In front of us is Earth, the birthplace and foundation of humanity. The blue and green almost bring tears into my eyes as I take in the beauty of humanities home. As we sit appreciating the sight, a red light starts emitting from the communications console. A young man who is 18 calls out to me. Everyone's uniform has a small digit to indicate their age," Sir, we are being hailed by the Earth Defense Council." My admiration for Earth quickly turns into concern for her. I sit up and look at the young man." Aleck Jones, right?" The young man nods in confirmation that this is his name." Alright Jones, the EDC is Earths main weapon against interstellar threats, however, it is our duty to investigate, I know a red alert is their priority, but let's answer their mayday signal." Aleck nods,"Yes sir! Patching them through now sir." As he yells I can see Aleck pressing a few buttons, then a hologram console in between the crew and captains chair lights up. When it fully awakens a video feed is created. In the video feed is a young man who seems to be in his late teen years, though I cant tell because his digit is covered in blood. He has brown hair and a full beard and Moustache. His eyes are green like the leaves of a summer tree. His uniform has a blue symbol of Earth on it. The symbols represent something else when they are different colors. A gold symbol acknowledges the fact that you are a commander. The blue symbol acknowledges that you are a general, and the black symbol acknowledges that you are an Admiral. However anyone below the rank of commander gets an eagle symbol until the rank of private. Privates recieve the symbol of a wing.

The man looks distressed and upset, he speaks but the feed has static and flickers." This is General Leanordo....[audio unintelligible]....Constant hull breaches..We were attacked in the gandor system...[audio unintelligible]....Mayday...Mayday...43 dead, 2,000 injured...[Error in transmission]....Rescue pods are being targeted...We were betrayed by Gri..[audio unintelligible]...We are near the planet Velcorg.....[static]

Some of the bridge crew sigh as the transmitted ends. This is a regular simulation used on test takers, however every situation has minor and major changes, but the main outline of events are similar. My crew looks back at me for an order. A young man who is 25 speaks up." Commander! Gradey Hyms at your service! May I suggest we warp to the planet Velcorgian? It is the only planet where Aleck traced the feed. As a specialist in navigation and communication too, I calculate that we have a 68% chance of warping through safely. Velcorgian has a natural astroid belt and it may prove difficult but I am sure you can lead us." He nods at me as I look back at him. I ponder on what to do, before I can decide on a decision another crew member speaks up." Sasha Williams, Navigations Expert and Enviromental Evaluations Cheif. I suggest we warp 14 miles away from the planet. This will give us a chance to scan for enemies. Sir, the video message was a distress call, General Leanordo stated that they were being targetted, even their space pods were. If we warp in to close now we may follow their fate. They are most likely dead." As Sasha says that some of the crew mumble under their breath, they do not want to accept her statement despite how logically sound it is. I start thinking outloud," warping into an asteroid field is risky, especially with possible enemies. We would surely be targetted if they are in the area. Warp in to far away and we may allow needless death to go on. We may lose all enemies or the trace of their attack. We could scan and investigate but to what purpose will that serve if our allies are killed and the enemy escapes?" As I think out loud another red alert appears, red lights immediately start flashing on the ship. The red lights are wired into every pre-installed light on the ship. A voice catches me as I barely have time to react to the changing situations." Hayden Young, Lawton Oklahoma! Ship awareness Cheif and sensor interpretor. Our sensors show a VR-64 Hawk Missile approaching fast and closing. Sensors also show a heavy Mass moving quickly toward us on the radar." I sigh and quickly breathe in and out." Jones, contact Fleet Command. Request assitance, Hyms, evasive maneuvers! Avoid that ships weapons at all cost, it has greater fire power according to scanners. Williams, scan Velcorgian and pinpoint exactly where that asteroid feild is. Hyms, right when she pinpoints where it is warp us there!" The crew gasps and hesitates. We come alive when the missile misses us due to Gradey's erratic maneuvering." That was an order ladies!" Sasha being against the idea objects to my proposition." Sir! If we warp directly in it we will have major damage. Sir we will die." I keep my face relaxed and yell to get everyones attention." Sasha! You and ever soldier here earned this uniform, you are capable of the impossible. We will not die! Trust me and trust your fellow comrades." With that said she relaxes and before she sits down in her chair she yells loudly." AHHHHHH! COME ON YOU LAZY PUSSIES! LETS FUCK THIS ENEMY UP." Some of the crew laughs, while others yell hooah. The enemy ship proceeds to launch five more missiles, all which miss thanks to Gradey's amazing piloting skills. As we dogde one more missle I command the crew to commence our plan. Before the enemy ship can react we warp inside the asteroid field safey. More of the crew decides to introduce them selves while we await the enemy. Sasha, Hayden, Gradey, and Aleck stay seated as the rest of the crew stands. One by one they introduce themselves to me. They introduce themselves in number order. Sasha is number 1, Hayden is number 2, Gradey is number 3, and Aleck is number 4." 5. Hurcles Johnson, Weapons expert! It is my greatest honor to serve under you. 6. Julie Jane, Medical Expert, good to meet you sir! 7. Enoch Manelle, Tactician! If we pass this test I will buy you a drink. 8. Amber Rose, Senior Scout Pilot! Gradey's only good because of me sir. 9. Drake Willonstop, Repair specialists and Warp Drive Expert! Warp is cooling down and will be operational in 10 minutes. 10. Trinity Shemway, Senior Therapist and Health Evalutions Expert. I will keep a tab on every crew members health, even yours!" I quickly salute them all and soon after we are setting up the next phase of the mission.

10 minutes after the final introductions most of the preparations are done. The whole time I notice that everyone is nervous, such fear can make or break a person. Trinity confirms this as she sits up properly. She silently mouths to me," Do something inspiring." She might expect me to give a speech so I nod in understanding and stand up. This is a test to see if I can motivate and inspire. The first two trials tested my skill in a changing situation and when arguments all come at once. Now it is how I inspire and address my crew in situations. I look at them with eyes of furry." Leanordo is a member of the Fleet. He is alive!" Silence fills the air with each pause I take, their faces are full of insecurity and fear." Listen, we are mere men and women facing the universe. Uncertainty and Chaos are laws here. However, you have fought, trained, learned, and struggled day in and day out to make it. You are Fleet Soldiers! You are Gods of space! You are peace keepers, freedom defenders, your assitance is a badge of respect, your blood and flesh are badges of honor, and your life is a badge of sacrifice. You all are capable of great things, If you are afraid, good! It means you are human. It means you still are capable of loving, of growing, of learning, and of living. I am also afraid! However, the enemy will not stop because of my fear. He will attack us, attack our home, attack our families, until we all die! So fight! For your very skills and sacrifice may mean the difference betweem life and death. Our very weapons could kill us due to a minor flaw, yet we continue to use them. The ground or metal we walk on could give way, yet we still walk. Do not let the illusion of fear stop you from your duty!" The entire crew yells hooah and salutes. I turn to Aleck after." Aleck, send a communications signal that can be traced. Hayden try and hide the asteroid field by using the sensor falsifying device. Drake and Enoch, prepare our recovery drones to search for pods with life, have them rescue them. The rest of you battle stations. Amber, Gradey, control my beautifil ship, and make sure she doesn't lose to many bolts and screws." They stand up and salute me." Julie and Trinity, tend to to the injured and keep an eye on the crews morality." Julie bows and Trinity stands up and graps her clipboard tightly on her chest. As fast as my commands are given, they are executed faster. After Aleck sends the signal the enemy ship warps directly in front of an asteroid which damages it. Hayden raises his voice." Enemy ship damaged, possible engine failure, w-" He pauses and reacts hysterically." SIR!!!!! Orbital station where Earth Defense Council is located is 32 miles away from us." I cant afford to hesitate," I press the emergency com link buttom and call for fleet assiantant. Soon all the other ships warp near us. They pull out of the field and proceed to fire on the enemy ship." As quickly as I give the command 30 ships of the entire fleet turn and head to the Councils station all the while the rest of the fleet begins to attack the enemy ship. Missiles and Lazers speed towards the enemy ship like Cheetahs chasing their prey. Like a fly dodging your hands. The crew continues to focus despite the circumstances. And before we can properly adjust we are hailed. As a leader I must make a decision. In many wars the enemy surrendered over the radio or with flags. Maybe the enemy will surrender, but under what circumstances or terms. The hailing signal continues as my crew waits for my decision. I order all ships to cease fire as the hailing call is accepted. In the video feed is a dark insect like creature. It has two eyes like an ant and is 6 ft and 8 in. As I am about to ask it to identify itself it lifts up one of its six arms and reveals a bloody, half mutilated Leanordo dangling on its arm. Leanordo says something using his lips. Trinity, who has some skills with helping the deaf interprets it." Commander...General...Sorry, Sorry. Umm...." She exhales and collects herself." Sir, he is saying that he planted explosives on her ship....That its a hive ship." The creature interrupts Trinity with a screech. It proceeds to turn off its hailing system. My crew is now angry. The creature wanted to cause fear and defeat, but all it promoted was a reason to fight til death. In a surprise the alien ship starts moving...The hailing was a ruse!!! For an hour we attck it looking for weak points. We make every attempt to cause the explosives to explode but every impact is repulsed by a shield on the enemy ship. And just when we are about to execute a real plan to use an emp on the enemy, the impossible happens.