Sorry that I haven't posted a chapter for so long. I'll put two chapter up for you guys!
Chapter 5
The diplomatic conference room was small and well-lit. There were many plants at the center of the table and around the room as well. The Terran Alliance flag was at the back of the room. Jim, Altos, Jordan, and the other officers entered the room. Several other Admirals were there, to whom Jordan saluted.
Why doesn’t he do that to me? Jim thought.
At the end of the table was a tall man in his early fifties. He wore a black and gray suit that had the Terran Alliance symbol on its collar. This was President Alan Bradley. He rose as Jim and the others entered.
“Greetings,” he said. “I hear you have some very important information for me. Your shaggy-haired friend told me that,” said the president, looking at Jordan. Like many Terran soldiers, Jordan wore his hair long, surfer style. Shaving soldiers’ heads was banned because it conflicted with constitutional amendments that guaranteed freedom of expression.
“Anyway,” the president continued, “What do you have to share?”
Jordan started. “The Drengin Empire is planning to assault Altaria on June 17th. The main ship is supposed to be a battleship called Lord Kona’s Pride.”
The Admirals started murmuring among themselves.
The President’s eyes widened, then narrowed. “How do you know that this is true?”
“Look at this,” said Jordan. He took a cube-shaped device out of his pocket. He turned it on, and a hologram appeared. Various diagrams of Drengin ships flashed, surrounded by words and sentences in the Drengin language. Jordan plugged a small programming stick into an adapted port on the cube. The language turned to English. The hologram then showed the plan for the attack on Altaria. Over 300 ships and fighters were to be in the fleet. President Bradley’s jaw dropped. “I’ll get Lord Vega and Chancellor Netro Mancer here,” he stammered. “In the meantime, make use of the station’s facilities, and enjoy yourselves. Things won’t be calm for long. I’ll call for you when you are needed at the conference. This meeting is over.”
Chapter 6
Jim walked briskly down the corridors of Twilight Station Core 01. He could always see the blue energy beam, as well as his ships, thanks to several transparent steel panels. As he came around a corner, he heard loud shouting and laughing from the bar. As he looked in, he could he Jordan getting a massage from two attractive women, and telling the story of the battle with the frigates to other bar patrons. As Jim moved closer, he could tell Jordan was stretching the truth. As Jordan continued, Jim eyes narrowed. Jordan was insulting his superiors, Jim being one of them. He entered the bar.
Jordan was still telling the story; he didn’t even notice Jim. “So, the frigates were popping some caps in our direction in all, and ol’ Jim Ebyon is like, ‘Stay here, fire torpedoes’, and I’m like, ‘Uh, no. I know how to fight Yor Collective motherships. I know what to do.’ As we zap the Drengin, they get lucky and frag the Ogre a bit. Ralph Turner tells us to pull back. We stay where we are and fight. Then those Arceans show up and finish the job. I mean, how stupid is Jim? Staying at long range, where they’re sitting ducks. What morons!” He and his friends turned and saw Jim, and their faces drained of all color. “Uh, hi Jim.”
Before Jim could catch him, Jordan bolted from the bar, turned the corner, and was gone. The bar patrons roared with laughter. Jim turned to several soldiers. “Return to your base, you three.”
One complained. “We’re off-duty!”
“As of now, you are on-duty. Return to your base.”
The soldier growled and walked away. He muttered something under his breath that Jim could hear. “Man, the rumors about stone-heart Ebyon are true.”
“WHAT DID YOU SAY??!!”
“Nothing, nothing.”
Jim continued to explore. He wandered about for an hour, and stumbled on a sign. As he read the inscription, he saw it was a rather well known poem.
Beyond this simple door,
Lies a hologram, though it means much more.
Within its shape, and helixes of two,
Contains the code that makes you, you.
Now enter, if you may,
And walk from this chamber changed, today.It was the door to a monument that saluted Terran and Altarian scientific achievements. He entered. The chamber was narrow, yet deep. Two walkways went from wall to wall, and they crossed in the middle. Where the walkways met was a circular platform and projector. Jim saw the hologram. It showed Terran/Altarian DNA. The double-helixed shape spun slowly, its light reflected off numerous windows. DNA itself was a symbol of science and achievement, which was why it was chosen for the display. As Jim walked down the platform, he saw two figures watching the hologram. As he moved closer, he saw it was Jordan and Altos. They were talking. Altos was saying something now.
“I can’t believe Lord Kona is ambitious enough to assault Altaria. How could he have assembled a fleet that large without being spotted? It makes me wonder.”
Jordan was talking now. “Wonder what?”
“Wonder how the Coalition will muster a defense strong enough to save my people.”
“It’ll be fine.”
“You seemed really exhausted when you came in here, all huffing and puffing. What happened?”
“I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Please?”
“All I’ll say is that it had to do something with me and Jim. Why does that guy treat me with such disdain? Just because I joke around doesn’t make me a bad person.”
“Jim is not used to people like you. He’s been in the Terran Alliance navy for thirty years now. I’d say he's forgotten what some people are like.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Just then a hangar bay door opened. A massive vessel bearing the colors and insignia of the Altarian Republic moved in the station. More doors opened to allow it deeper into the structure, eventually to Twilight Station Core 01. Jim had seen that ship before. It was the diplomatic starship of the Altarians. Though the handcrafted ship’s main purpose was diplomacy, it had many weapons emplacements. Immediately after the Altarian ship went through, an even bigger yellow ship moved through, with the sign of the Arcean Empire.
“They sure got here fast,” said Jim, startling Jordan and Altos.
“I think I’ll get ready for the meeting,” said Jordan. He turned and walked away. It was obvious he was trying to get away from Jim.
Once Jordan was gone, Altos gave Jim an annoyed look.
“What’s wrong, Altos?”
“You and Jordan. Jordan just likes to mess around and be funny, something that you should understand. I know he could use more manners, but he’s just a kid. Only, recently did he stop leading guerilla strikes against Yor ships and settle down in the captain’s chair. Give him a chance. I know you’ve given him a ton of chances before, but be patient.”
Jim was quiet for a moment. “I’ll take your advice,” he replied.
“Good. Let’s go. President Bradley and the others are probably waiting.”
Jim and Altos left the monument. As they turned the corner, Jim’s eye caught the last line of the poem.
And walk from this chamber changed, today.