Dawn of the Final Frontier

Prologue

       [Archive Begin]

        Captain James Sterlein stood, looking out of the viewport, aboard an Eagle transport craft. One of the heftiest of personnel transports, it's capable of holding half a company, at 60 fully equiped troops. Not to mention the craft itself is armed with 40 millimeter autocannons, as well as a missile pod equipped with the 122 millimeter Shocker tactical missile. Or, as many called the things, air-to-almost bloody everything missiles. 

        Today, however, the weapons were not needed. Right now, the Captain was looking over the ESS Gladius, the first of it's class. It was massive, more than three times the size of the Warhammer class warships. It also had twice the amount of weaponry. Dozens of 60 millimeter autocannons, and dozens of missile pods. As the Eagle transport, rounded the front of the Warship, James could see the main weapon of choice. An array of several Laser Emitters. James had already been briefed on how they work, and the kind of destructive capability they have. The Laser Emitters each fire their charge into the central pylon. The central pylon concentrated the charges, using technology that was beyond him. However, when fired, the laser was able to cut through meters of hardened titanium-steel armor with no problem. It could gut a Warhammer class within minutes.

        The charge itself lasted for only a minute, however, and the weapon itself took over 5 minutes to charge, with all power routed to it. With an engine, weapons, and other functions needing power, the laser could take up to 20 minutes, James knew. The weapon, however, spoke for itself. It was not to be messed with. 

        The ship itself had a crew of over two thousand, and the hangar was capable of holding an Eagle Transport, as well as a squadron of Falcon fighters and Raptor bombers. The ship was also armored to the very limit, with almost over 50 inches of a hardened mixture of Steel, Chromium, and Tungsten Carbide, something the scientists on Earth spent tens of hundreds of years working on. The result was this masterpiece of armor. Very little could penetrate it via conventional methods. The ship's own laser array could cut through it with several volleys, so it wasn't invincible. James didn't want a ship that was invincible. Being invincible would mean he would eventually lose his tactical thinking, and being in a damaged ship brought pressure, and pressure brought the feeling of wanting to triumph.

        James knew this ship was only one of many. The TNC was in the process of putting the finishing touches on 9 more of the beasts, and they had plans to build 70 more. Having 80 of these behemoths will certainly be benificial to the TNC. They could be a massive influential factor if the Earth Space Alliance wanted to expand their territory. However, the ESS Gladius is the first of it's class, the first to be built. It's class and ship name meant Sword in Latin, and was a common weapon among the very ancient Roman Empire that lived thousands of years ago. The Romans, James had learned at school when he was a child, were powerful, and did not hesitate to fight. The ship was an embodiment of that, the crew it's soldiers, the ship as their swords. 

        Over the 1MC system, the pilot informed him that they were docking back into the Gladius. It was time for him to undock, and head to Mars to meet the rest of the Gladius class ships. There, they would be formally inducted into the TNC. The Eagle transport landed, and James stepped off the ship once the rear ramp was open. His Personal Communication Pad vibrated, as he habitually brought it out of his coat pocket. He held it on his palm, as the holographic image of a man, in a normal office suit, appeared. It was Mark, the ship's new AI, one of the Advanced variety.

        "Hello captain," Mark said, in his heavy British accent, "Everything is going accordingly, and we should be prepared to launch in about..." He paused a whole 5 milliseconds, "10 minutes."

        "Very well. Thank you, Mark," James said, and clicked the PCP off as he made his way to the elevator, which would take him straight to the bridge. He stepped inside, pressed the up button, and felt the sensation of the lift rising. Moments later, the elevator stopped, and the doors briskly opened. 

        "Status report," James said as he walked in, stopping at his command chair.

        He didnt sit, not yet. He preferred to stand, looking at the main viewscreen, which showed the image of Earth below. From all the way up here, it looked beautiful. He loved the view of Earth from space. Despite the large number of orbital stations, in which the types varied, it added to the formidable look of Earth. The stations all had their own tasks. Some were trade ports, others were construction stations, albeit smaller than the one the ESS Gladius was currently being held by, and there were even defense stations. James had heard they were soon to be upgraded, with more powerful versions of the laser array the Gladius class ships were equipped with.

        "Weapons have just been finished being armed. Targeting systems are green, as is the laser array," replied Lieutenant Johnson, the ships bridge weapons officer. He was able to fire on multiple targets with a ship's weapons, and still hit.

        "Navigation systems are green, engines are online, and warming up." said the perky Lieutenant Mizushima, the ships navigational officer. She was able to do almost impossible maneuvers without a sweat.

        "All crew accounted for, awaiting orders," said Security Chief Anderson. He was an ex soldier, and thus had plenty of tactics up his sleeves in case the ship is ever attacked by pirates, or worse.

        "My men are aboard, and ready for combat. And yes, they know this is a ship that's planned to explore," said Captain Maxwell, the one in charge of the company of Earth troops on board. In war time, he would be in charge of his troops, and Anderson's men aswell. Usually James would worry about power struggle between the Chief and Maxwell, but he knew Earth soldiers were some of the best disciplined, although right after Arcadia's own military.

        "Very well. Anderson, order all crew to their normal stations and duties. We're leaving in 15," James said, looking at his tactical display, when Mark appeared next to his command chair.

        "Sir, orders from the TNC StarCom. We are to belay orders from ESA, and head straight for Octania," Mark said, with slight urgency in his voice.

        "And why is that?" James said quizically.

        "Octania reports contact with alien lifeforms, sir. Ships even. Definately not ours. The Gladius class ships stationed their," Mark paused, pulling up several live images from Octania on the main viewscreen, "the ESS New York, ESS Sevastopol, and ESS London, are currently confronting the alien ships. So far, they report nothing but good intentions... but the TNC wants you as the, well, negotiator, lacking a better term."

        James observed the image, seeing the 3 Gladius class ships. Beyond them, however, was indeed an alien ship. It's outer hull was interesting, as it had bulbous sections, and it was colored a light galaxy blue. It was rather large, almost as large as the Gladius class. 

        "Very well. Mizushima, plot a jump to Octania, fastest speed possible," James said, sitting down in his chair.

        "Aye aye, captain," Mizushima tapped the display in front of her. The Gladius moved away from the docking station, orienting towards the Alpha Centauri system. Then, the ship jumped, the view screen filling with nothing but blackness.