Age of Lies (Original Version)

Chapter 10

The dropships soon exited the debris field and they made their way to the bay doors on the Prince. As the dropships approached the bay the doors groaned open and the energy shield that protected the bay shimmered a dull orange as the two dropships edged closer. The pilots edged their metal birds forward through the shields and into the bay where they landed on their designated pads. The engines began to idle down as the ramps at the rear of the two ships dropped letting marines pour out like water from a dam and they filed up with their squads waiting for Captain Travis to give his next set of orders. Quincy unbuckled his safety straps and grabbed what little gear he had and followed Markelium down the large ramp. By this time Captain Travis was already speaking to his marines who stood at parade rest with their gear resting beside them.

"So far today you have answered a distress call from an unknown ship and found no survivors and had no real action. However, it seems like you were blessed when that ship dropped out of warp and let us board her so we could get some glory and honor! Now those who got wounded, get your butts to the med bay! I hope you have a good excuse as to how ya'll got wounded while having the finest gear the UPSF can provide to protect you." The marines grinned lightly at the Captain's way of hiding his concern. Travis continued after the wounded had taken their leave. "Now, congratulations on another successful mission. We will do a formal debriefing in twenty mikes, let your friends in the med-bay know."

Travis walked up and down the rows of marines looking over the squad leaders and the other soldiers. "Now Stow your gear, drop off your findings and report to your squad officers. Then you can grab some grub and have your regular schedules until o-nine hundred tomorrow." He paused a moment. "Dismissed!"

"OHH RAA!" Yelled the marines as they saluted Captain Travis. They then headed to the locker room to stow their gear. Markelium and Quincy walked past the second dropship as the rumble of its large engines slowly dropped in intensity as they powered down. The flight crews for the two birds had long since rushed out in their blue and orange colored null suits to start their maintenance. Markelium and Quincy made their way over to the supply officer who had supplied them with their weapons. Quincy handed his right over while Markelium headed over to his weapon storage box and pulled out a small container. Quincy walked over curious as to what other surprises this man may show him and saw Markelium pull out a small case. Markelium placed his gun on his lap as he sat down and he began cleaning it until he was satisfied. He then took the gun and took several parts off of it somehow. He then placed the gun, parts and all, into the large grey case.

Markelium stood up and picked the case up and handed it over to the supply officer who took the weapons back to storage. Quincy followed Markelium into the corridors that lead to the elevators near the center of the ship. Markelium keyed for the door and they waited for the elevator to appear. A young man and lady walked up and waited for the elevator as well and judging by their uniforms were part of the medical team.

Moments later the elevator doors opened with a metallic hiss. They all entered and selected their destination. The doors opened on deck C for the two medics and soon Markelium and Quincy found themselves on deck B and headed for the bridge to report back to Captain Kelly. As they got closer the ship wide intercom crackled an announcement.

"All hands make ready for warp in t-minus fifteen minutes. I repeat. All hands make ready for warp in t-minus fifteen minutes." Markelium and Quincy made it past the security force stationed outside the bridge and entered onto the bridge.

The bridge was lit with flashing yellow lights indicating that they were at battle ready status and the bridge crew were scurrying around prepping for the jump that would take them several light years from their current position. Captain Kelly stood beside the first lieutenant and the navigation officer discussing something when Markelium and Quincy walked up and reported to Kelly.

"Good work you two." Said Kelly as he saw they were both fine. "Quincy, you are dismissed. Report back to your station for the rest of your shift." Quincy saluted the captain and replied, "Aye Aye Captain." and he turned around and resumed his post with the rest of the damage control team who were looking over damage reports from the encounter with the other ship. Captain Kelly set his eyes back on Markelium.

"Markelium, good work there. Glad you're back in one piece. Now as I was just discussing with the nav-officer and Takomaya here, we are going to be making for port as planned to get maintenance, resupplied and some new gear. After the majority of these operations are complete I will begin letting the crew have a little bit of shore leave to help them get a change of atmosphere." He turned to Takomaya and said, "Go ahead and drop of a beacon so that the scrappers can salvage the freighter and whatever's left of the frigate when they get here." He then turned towards the nav-officer, "Let's get these jump coordinates plugged in and get back on course."

The nav-officer saluted and headed off to get the final preparations for the jump complete. Kelly turned back to Markelium, "Send a message to the station informing them we will be arriving behind schedule and send them an updated list of supplies that we will need for repairs."

"Aye Aye sir. And Captain? If I may, could I talk to you later? I have a few things that have been bothering me." Said Markelium as he lowered his salute.

"That will be fine. Come to my cabin at fourteen hundred hours. We can talk then as much as you like. I'm sure you still have a lot of questions since you do not know everything that has happened up till now since you and the Hudson were found. So I will do my best to answer them for you."

"Thank you sir." Replied Markelium who began to walk towards the communication station. Crystal and Flint greeted Markelium as he approached them. "Hey Crystal, Captain wants us to send a message out to the station to inform them that the Prince will be behind schedule and he wants an updated list of items needed for the repairs and all. The damage control team should have it here in a moment."

"Alright and thanks Markelium. Just resume your post for now relax and be thankful your alive still." Said Crystal who began typing up a report to send to the station. A moment later Quincy came over and dropped off the list which detailed what was needed for repairs. Markelium helped Crystal finish the report and they sent it off. Moments later the ship-wide comm's crackled to life again. "All hands prepare for jump in t-minus two minutes. I repeat. All hands prepare for jump in t-minus two minutes."

Markelium walked up to the large windows that surrounded the bridge and he paid his final respects to the crew of the two mysterious ships they had encountered. Even in space the death of a space ship could be beautiful he mused as he stared into the black at the wondrous scene that lay before him. The two ships which had been spilling helium-3 fuel into space were lit up as the fuel had somehow caught fire casting blue, green, red and yellow light on the two hulls as they drifted silently through the void.

"Sir, wanna grab a seat real quick before we jump?" Asked Quincy as he saw Markelium standing by the window.

"Not today. I'll see these souls off." Replied Markelium in a sad but solemn voice.

"But sir?-" started Quincy before the comm's cut him off.

"Jumping in t-minus ten seconds. Nine. . . Eight. . . Seven. . . Six. . . Five. . ." Suddenly a light blue rift surrounding a darker blue began to open in front of the Prince and she began to push forward into it.

"Four. . . Three. . . Two. . . One. . . Jump." At this the Prince crossed into the rift which began to shimmer like water and closed behind the destroyer leaving the two hulks alone in the blackness of space. Suddenly several white flashes appeared on the mysterious frigate's hull as small objects detached. Multiple rifts in space soon appeared and disappeared just as quickly as they came. Minutes later the fuel finally burned out leaving scorch marks along both hulls and then all fell to darkness as the last fire died out.