The Exile - The Journal of Col. Kenji Nacht, United Space Command - Chapter 1. Pt1

[Goldo]

Well, this is what I have so far...

Read the Prologue here

Chapter 1 – Dead Space

Incoming Transmission
Earth Stardate: December, Day 14, 2924
Source: United Space Command, Mars
To: Kenji Nacht, Lieutenant Junior Grade

Welcome to the USC Lieutenant, this is USC Command. Congratulations on your graduation from the USC Officer Training Academy, London. Now the time has come for the real thing.

You have been assigned to Orbital Patrol Station Keynes, Pluto.

Keynes is the main USC Base for operations for outer Sol territories. The USC’s main duty there is to watch over the mining operations on Pluto and nearby asteroids in the Kuiper Belt. Manned exploration of the Oort Cloud sector is also co-ordinated from Keyes Station.

A transport should be waiting to take you to the Torus.
At 07:30 hours, USC Deep Space Transport Alpha Sigma Six will arrive at the Earth Torus to pick you up and transport you to your new assignment. On arrival at Keynes Station, you are to report to Station Commander Ruth Eisner. Lieutenant, you are also amongst one of the first junior grade officers about to step foot on the Torus…

We wish you a productive career with the United Space Command.
USC Command.

*** End Transmission ***

Log entry #01
USC Lt. K. Nacht – USC Officer Training Academy,
London - Dec. D14, ES: 2924

Well, this is my first log as a commissioned USC officer.

I could not but wonder what awaited me at the far reaches of the solar system. Pluto… a planet I have never really thought about nor had the dream of visiting. I imagine it as being a dark, frozen waste. So far away from Earth, and yet I can only speculate that it will be as empty as I feel.

I look up into the night sky and can clearly see the main hub of the Torus with my bare eye. Several years back, I thought that I would never be lucky enough to see it, let alone step foot on it. The Torus Freedom Brigade hated every aspect of this structure and went as far as insurgent attacks in Earth’s major cities. If only Klaus could see me now… and not forgetting my father, they would both be so proud; but sometimes the pain of loosing them jumps up and bites me hard… and its then I find that I cannot stop myself from crying. At least I can honour their memory with this career in the USC.

As I look at the Torus shuttle on the landing pad, I have a sense that actually my life so far is just the introduction… and that the main story is now about to begin. All of my belongings are packed and ready to go with me… As I clutch the picture of Klaus and my Father, I prepare to say goodbye to the big blue as many have began calling the Earth.

I can’t help but sometimes think about Captain Kyle Brennan during the maiden flight of xperimental. I can only wonder, is he still alive? Will he ever see the Earth again? The same could be said of Major Kho. My instructor at the academy spent a month teaching about the events 12 years ago. As far as we are concerned, there is no way that Brennan or Kho could have possibly survived; yet there is something within me that thinks otherwise… what if they found something else? Could there be other life in our galaxy? What of the old gate system that they did not like to talk about at the academy? Were the old terraformer fleets still out there somewhere? Space is infinitely bigger than anything we know… Yet, I feel the government here likes to box it up… Well, at least I’m grateful to be assigned far away; hopefully that means less oppressive rules.

Well, the boarding announcement for the Torus shuttle has come, time for the story to begin…

# End of Log Entry

Kenji, carrying one mid sized case took one last deep breath of the clean, crisp mid afternoon air in London as he approached the Torus shuttle whilst looking around at the towering London skyline. The shuttle was small and cramped with barely enough room to seat eight people. Six of the passengers were high ranking USC officers, each of them wearing crease free USC blue & white uniforms. Kenji took the only available seat.

Kenji seat was next to a tall Caucasian man wearing a grey uniform with different rank insignia to the USC officers. Kenji knew this man was in the ATF and didn’t utter a word. As the shuttle interior rattled whilst it was lifting off from the landing pad, the man looked at a slightly nervous Kenji inquisitively before asking,
“Lieutenant Kenji Nacht I presume?” Kenji’s eyes widened with shock at how the man knew exactly who he was. “I am Colonel Crix Fara. Oh and no need to be surprised, the ATF knows all about you son.” Kenji was still lost for speech as Crix produced a small device and pointed it at the USC Officers around him. One by one, they went into an unconscious state.
“Kenji, I’m sorry about my being here, but I have no choice. We do not need their ears listening.” Crix continued, “The ATF knows about your assignment to station Keynes in Pluto orbit. We have long suspected that Station Commander Ruth Eisner is harbouring illegal AGI development.”
“Why are you mentioning this to me?” Kenji replied after several deep breaths.
“You are the only new person going out to Pluto, we need an informer.” Crix informs.
“But, why doesn’t the ATF just use one of the USC staff already on station Keynes?” Kenji replies, “Surely they would be more connected?”
“Unfortunately, in an AGI case involving a senior officer, all personnel under their command is suspect. We simply cannot take that risk.” Crix informs further. “This is why I have been sent to you today.”

Kenji scratches his head in thought. He wanted to work for the ATF when he was younger, he now has his chance.
“Kenji, are you willing to help the ATF uncover corruption in the ranks of the USC potentially bring a criminal to justice?” Crix asked with seriousness. “We need you to get close to Commander Eisner and send us reports of what you find.”

Kenji sighs and begins to wonder if this is what he actually signed up for. After a few moments of silence he turns to Crix,
“Colonel, I am willing to help the ATF, but what am I to get in return?”
“Do you really expect to see much going on in the outer territories?” Crix laughs. “Kenji, I can see to it that you are re-assigned to a more lets say… interesting assignment. Providing of course you keep your end of the deal.”

Kenji looks at the unconscious USC officers and gulps.
“No need to worry about them Kenji, I used a harmless sleep inducing resonated to render them unconscious, the difference is – they will have no recollection of this conversation ever taking place.” Crix informs, “That does mean that this conversation was indeed classified and never happened.”

As the shuttle clears Earth’s upper atmosphere, Kenji looks out of the window as the background suddenly turns black and the spherical shape of the Earth is seen. A single tear slips from Kenji’s right eye as the shuttle approaches the docking bay of the Torus. The USC Officers by now were regaining consciousness.
“Have a good sleep?” Crix joked as the shuttle touched down in the main hangar of the Torus. To which the USC officers groaned in acknowledgement, having no idea what had happened. Kenji was still looking out of the window in awe when Crix placed his hand on Kenji’s shoulder…
“Look, I was a close colleague of your father, just off the record, if you need anything; you know where to find me…” Crix explained, “oh, and good luck!”

Log entry #02
USC Lt. K. Nacht – Earth Torus, Earth
Deck 3: Promenade - Dec. D14, ES: 2924

The shuttle trip was far from the “bring a holo-book” trip than I was expecting… I met an ATF officer, Col. Crix Fara who informed me that he used to work alongside my father. It was a little spooky when he said I could contact him if I was in need… but I no longer as if I have nothing… However, he also approached me to be an informer to the ATF about a suspected AGI harbouring on Station Keynes in Pluto. To be honest, I was a little afraid to say no this offer, but too late for second thoughts now. I just hope things do not go south.

So, perhaps the assignment at Pluto will be eventful? Now I just need to figure out the best way of getting into Commander Eisner’s good books as soon as I get there.

Well, I’ve around 12 hours to wait before I board the transport to Pluto. Surely, there has to be something other than C-Ration to eat around here? The government leaflets said there would be gourmet restaurants on the Torus… so far there are no signs of any… ugh… the thought of cryo-sleep on an empty stomach does not help before a 2 month journey to Pluto; and to think that the transport passes by the Moon, Venus, Mars, the asteroid belt and the outer planets… never in my life have I seen any of them! Ever since the incident earlier this year of Cpl. Timo Henk, a USC Marine who killed seven people on Deep Space Transport Alpha Zeta 2 in an uncontrolled rampage due to deep space sickness syndrome the USC has made it a rule that all passengers are put into cryo-sleep on long haul voyages.

I’m nervous, I’ve never been cryogenically frozen before and I can’t help but have nightmares of never waking up…

# End of Log Entry

[Seathal]

All I can say is keep on with it. Love the format and the story. Can't wait for more.

[Goldo]

hehe, cheers bud! Glad the format is ok - was a little worried it may confuse...

[SOTS]

I've liked both instalments so far - keep it up! This was unclear,

... but I no longer as if I have nothing...

but there were few issues apart from the odd missing comma, which didn't really detract much from the experience.

I've yet to play TC though, unfortunately. My rapidly ageing system probably couldn't handle it anyways (and this is the excuse I use to satisfy my conscience ).

If you're worried about the format perhaps confusing your readership, you could differentiate the text style between segments. You could perhaps have the log entries in italics, to help distinguish where the log ends and the narrative begins, and vice versa. My two cents

[gamer993]

looking good!!! I like it!

[jannix]

Very nice! So the ATF are like the "men in black" except they are in gray, and have something similar to those cool flashy thingys

[Seathal]

hehe, cheers bud! Glad the format is ok - was a little worried it may confuse...

Not at all, it helps to create dyanism and so it doesn't get boring at all - but very interessant.