The Jourmal of a Spacefarer

[KillingMonkey]

This is my first fan-fic on this forum and is still a work in progress. Feel free to criticize and rate.

A Journal of a Spacefarer

He was adrift. On a small escape pod, drifting away form the wreck that was once his ship. He could hear the eerie sounds of the boosters as they corrected his course. To what? He wondered. There was nothing in space. No birds, no sky, no clouds. Not even grass. Yes, especially not grass. Nothing in space resembled grass. There was no green. Only black. Pitch black. A color he did not like, not at all. But now he was surrounded by it. Alone, in this small capsule with barely enough space to make two steps, drifting helplessly in an uncharted sector. Well… When he thought of it, he wasn’t really alone. Before he ran for the escape pod he was able to upload the ships’ AI to a UB disk he now held in his hand. Along with this small piece of hardware he was able to snatch only a few things from his burning quarters.

There, half burned, in his left hand, was the picture of his beloved Sarah, the only physical memory he had left of his late wife. He remembered how one day, when he was just exiting the mess hall in the Military Outpost in Black Hole Sun, he heard his personal communicator ring. When he picked it up he was told that a terrible incident had happened back on Earth. An earth quake had struck Chicago and nearly wiped it off the face of the planet. When he heard this, he felt his heart miss a beat. His wife and their two sons were visiting their aunt Samantha in Chicago that weekend.

When he finally got back to his home planet, he found that what he had feared the most. Sarah, their kids and Samantha were all dead. They were just in the park, relaxing, when the quake hit. There were no chances for them.

He felt a lone tear dropping down his cheek and put the picture aside, on the small table near his seat. He then saw a scorched, but mostly preserved, document. It was a salvage insurance document. On it was written most of his property, now gone, and the estimated insurance fund for each. The document was still legal since it had suffered mild damage, but some of the figures and marks were burned out and he couldn’t place a claim on those.

Scared that it might crumble in his hands, he put the document aside, on the seat in front of him. He then noticed something he had completely forgotten about. Something he thought he had left on the wrecked ship.
It was his account card. Completely intact. There were not even signs of use. His eyes began widening when he remembered how much of those credits in the card were left in a bank with an interest of almost 5%. Then he remembered that he was drifting out in the coldness of space and money was the last thing that mattered right now.

He then began observing the small UBD (Universal Bud Disk) that lay peacefully in his right hand.

‘Vectra’ he said to the small cube. And like triggered form his voice, which was actually the case, a 500 by 100 mm hologram of a female popped out of the cubes’ surface.

‘Yes? John? Where are we? Have you bought a new ship? John? Answer me, John.’ The figure said a bit frantically, looking around hastily. ‘Why was I not informed? Are you keeping secrets from me now?’

John… Yes, that was the name he had been called for quite some time now. Before it was Sharkh and before that it was Tillnuk. His original name was Andrew J. Adams but he changed to it Scot once he entered the Marine Corps back on Earth. Just the first of a series of changes.
‘Andrew! Are you low on oxygen? Is something wrong?’ Vectra said, seeing that he was giving no response.

The mention of his real name made him snap out of the memories and go back to the real world.

‘Yes, Vectra?’ he replied.

‘Well, you did wake me up. Might as well be for a good reason… Were are we by the way?’

‘Unfortunately, Vectra, my dear, we are currently slowly drifting away from our once glorious vessel, now reduced to little more than space scrap. We are in a escape shuttle with no firm course. And since you are going to ask why did I call you- I did it because you are the only sentient being in about 10 thousand light years and I need somebody to talk to. Rude and a bit selfish, I know, but it’s the truth.’

‘Well…’ the astonished and a bit hurt AI said, ‘that’s a bit of a surprise… I go to sleep for ten minutes and you get the ship destroyed. Can you at least tell me what sector are we in so that I can make an S.O.S beacon?’

‘Well… I can’t…’ John said, a bit ashamed, ‘I used the Unfocussed Jumpdrive and we ended up somewhere before our target, in an uncharted sector. To add to the problem the engines were punctured by a formation of micro asteroids, dreadful little things, so we had no power. Oh, I did forget to mention the big rock in which we crashed… Fortunately, we managed to escape before the impact…’

‘Oh, great… Way the go, Andrew…’ Vectra said…

***

Meanwhile, on the Military Outpost at Great Trench. In the level five cafeteria.

‘I tell you Mike, those Xenon are getting more and more courageous. Attacking a fully armed convoy in mid jump…’ said Simon Jones, a three star marine, stationed on the Tokyo class carrier ‘New Gettysburg’ for transfer to Black Hole Sun.

‘Yeah… Good thing we were there to show them the way back…’ replied Mike, a four star marine, also stationed on ‘New Gettysburg’, laughing.
‘Bad thing John wasn’t there. He could use some good clean fun… Where was he going again?’ asked Simon.

‘Think he said something about going to Saturn for his annual leave, using that new Jumpdrive on that ship he bought a few years back… I say he’s going to get himself killed…’

‘That’s John for ya… Getting himself killed half the time…’ said Simon, lifting his cup for a toast.

‘And the other half planning new ways of getting himself killed…’ completed Mike, smacking his cup in Simons’ and then gulping the liquid loudly and hungrily.

Then, just as they were finishing their meal, sergeant Homer F. Peterson entered the cafeteria, stopped the music and shouted:

‘Listen up! This just in from Command! We are to board Getty and set forth to Xenon Sector 347 with an Osaka and two frigates granted from the generous guys at ATF HQ! That’s ASAP, Marines! Did I say you could finish your drinks? Now go! GO! GO! Hooah!!’

The crowd welcomed the new orders with a synchronized ‘Hooah!’ and, like a single unit, lifted it self up and left the cafeteria. In just two hours the ‘New Gettysburg’ was making preparations to undock with the Military outpost and head for the Xenon Sector.

[collins50]

Interesting,
Never thought of being stranded in an escape pod.
will watch to see how it turns out.

[Seathal]

Nice begining. But I have a couple of doubts.

What in the hell is a Tokyo class (from the USC?) doing in a Boron sector way out of the Sol System? Are we gonna get further explanation on that?
and... Does Vectra have feelings? What is she? THe AI of the ship?

Keep on with it, I bet you cna work out a nice story!

[KillingMonkey]

Well, Seathal, by pal... The Tokyo and the other Terran ships (featured in the Xenon sector raid, will post it when I finish it and some other work) are just patrolling the vastness of space (courtesy of the USC Central Command).... That's what they're doing in Great Trench, besides enjoying the view and keeping the Military Outpost bars busy...

Vectra- Yes, that's and AI, pretty much like your standard AI (like the one in Halo, Kortana, that is)... John made it himself (figured that a five-star engineer can do such stuff). He tried making an exact replica of his wife, mental-wise, inputting all of her memories into Vectras' 'cerebral' functions. The outcome, though, was far from what he had aimed... The AI seemed nothing like Sarah and also didn't seem like a normal AI. Johns' best companion in most of his 260 missions and also the only 'person' that knows the entire story behind Andrew J. Adams. The only 'complete' AI approved by the ATF, Vectra has almost unlimited resources and can access most of the restricted Terran files. She can completely merge with any kind of machine/vehicle/system and can operate it the way no normal human can.
Storing inside herself the feelings and memories of Sarah, Vectra is the only AI to show signs of emotions and has her own distinct character.

Besides this story I'm also making the actual background of Vectras' making and also the complete story behind Andrew J. Adams (which I will not post unfortunately).
By now you've probably figured that Vectra is no ordinary ship AI (also known as VI*).

VI- Virtual Intelligence. Similar to a standard Artificial Intelligence, but also a lot different. VIs do not posses their own 'thoughts' and can not interact with objects the way AIs can. They are merely holographic images presenting quick access to a ships' internal system. They can not access these systems themselves but need an authorized command issued by an officer that via verbal contact 'operates' them. If you've played Mass Effect, you know what I mean.

[KillingMonkey]

OK.... A bit of double posting never hurt anyone... Right?
I've been working hard at real-life work (my boss is a complete a**hole) and couldn't really create too much.... But it's something... I've also made some minor adjustments to the previous 'Introductive' part.... Here's the whole thing, again.... I'm thinking of uploading this to some host site and posting a downloadable link.....


The Journal of a Spacefarer

Chapter 01: Taking a drift

He was adrift. On a small escape pod, drifting away form the wreck that was once his ship. He could hear the eerie sounds of the boosters as they corrected his course. To what? He wondered. There was nothing in space. No birds, no sky, no clouds. Not even grass. Yes, especially not grass. Nothing in space resembled grass. There was no green. Only black. Pitch black. A color he did not like, not at all. But now he was surrounded by it. Alone, in this small capsule with barely enough space to make two steps, drifting helplessly in an uncharted sector. Well… When he thought of it, he wasn’t really alone. Before he ran for the escape pod he was able to upload the ships’ AI to a UB disk he now held in his hand. Along with this small piece of hardware he was able to snatch only a few things from his burning quarters.
There, half burned, in his left hand, was the picture of his beloved Sarah, the only physical memory he had left of his late wife. He remembered how one day, when he was just exiting the mess hall in the Military Outpost in Black Hole Sun, he heard his personal communicator ring. When he picked it up he was told that a terrible incident had happened back on Earth. An earth quake had struck Chicago and nearly wiped it off the face of the planet. When he heard this, he felt his heart miss a beat. His wife and their two sons were visiting their aunt Samantha in Chicago that weekend.
When he finally got back to his home planet, he found that what he had feared the most. Sarah, their kids and Samantha were all dead. They were just in the park, relaxing, when the quake hit. There were no chances for them.
He felt a lone tear dropping down his cheek and put the picture aside, on the small table near his seat. He then saw a scorched, but mostly preserved, document. It was a salvage insurance document. On it was written most of his property, now gone, and the estimated insurance fund for each. The document was still legal since it had suffered mild damage, but some of the figures and marks were burned out and he couldn’t place a claim on those.
Scared that it might crumble in his hands, he put the document aside, on the seat in front of him. He then noticed something he had completely forgotten about. Something he thought he had left on the wrecked ship.
It was his account card. Completely intact. There were not even signs of use. His eyes began widening when he remembered how much of those credits in the card were left in a bank with an interest of almost 5%. Then he remembered that he was drifting out in the coldness of space and money was the last thing that mattered right now.
He then began observing the small UBD (Universal Bud Disk) that lay peacefully in his right hand.
‘Vectra’ he said to the small cube. And like triggered form his voice, which was actually the case, a 500 by 100 mm hologram of a female popped out of the cubes’ surface.
‘Yes? John? Where are we? Have you bought a new ship? John? Answer me, John.’ The figure said a bit frantically, looking around hastily. ‘Why was I not informed? Are you keeping secrets from me now?’
John… Yes, that was the name he had been called for quite some time now. Before it was Sharkh and before that it was Tillnuk. His original name was Andrew J. Adams but he changed to it Scot once he entered the Marine Corps back on Earth. Just the first of a series of changes.
‘Andrew! Are you low on oxygen? Is something wrong?’ Vectra said, seeing that he was giving no response.
The mention of his real name made him snap out of the memories and go back to the real world.
‘Yes Vectra?’ he replied.
‘Well, you did wake me up. Might as well be for a good reason… Were are we by the way?’
‘Unfortunately, Vectra, my dear, we are currently slowly drifting away from our once glorious vessel, now reduced to little more than space scrap. We are in a escape shuttle with no firm course. And since you are going to ask why did I call you- I did it because you are the only sentient being in about 10 thousand light years and I need somebody to talk to. Rude and a bit selfish, I know, but it’s the truth.’
‘Well…’ the astonished and a bit hurt AI said, ‘that’s a bit of a surprise… I go to sleep for ten minutes and you get the ship destroyed. Can you at least tell me what sector are we in so that I can make an S.O.S beacon?’
‘Well… I can’t…’ John said, a bit ashamed, ‘I used the Unfocussed Jumpdrive and we ended up somewhere before our target, in an uncharted sector. To add to the problem the engines were punctured by a formation of micro asteroids, dreadful little things, so we had no power. Oh, I did forget to mention the big rock in which we crashed… Fortunately, we managed to escape before the impact…’
‘Oh, great… Way the go, Andrew…’Vectra said…

***

Meanwhile, on the Military Outpost at Great Trench. In the level five cafeteria.
‘I tell you Mike, those Xenon are getting more and more courageous. Attacking a fully armed convoy in mid jump…’ said Simon Jones, a three star marine, stationed on the Tokyo class carrier ‘New Gettysburg’ for transfer to Black Hole Sun.
‘Yeah… Good thing we were there to show them the way back…’ replied Mike, a four star marine, also stationed on ‘New Gettysburg’, laughing.
‘Bad thing John wasn’t there. He could use some good clean fun… Where was he going again?’ asked Simon.
‘Think he said something about going to Saturn for his annual leave, using that new Jumpdrive on that ship he bought a few years back… I say he’s going to get himself killed…’
‘That’s John for ya… Getting himself killed half the time…’ said Simon, lifting his cup for a toast.
‘And the other half planning new ways of getting himself killed…’ completed Mike, smacking his cup in Simons’ and then gulping the liquid loudly and hungrily.
Then, just as they were finishing their meal, sergeant Homer F. Peterson entered the cafeteria, stopped the music and shouted:
‘Listen up! This just in from Command! We are to board Getty and set forth to Xenon Sector 347 with an Osaka and two frigates granted from the generous guys at ATF HQ! That’s ASAP, Marines! Did I say you could finish your drinks? Now go! GO! GO! Hooah!!’
The crowd welcomed the new orders with a synchronized ‘Hooah!’ and, like a single unit, lifted itself up and in just two hours the ‘New Gettysburg’ was making preparations to undock with the Military outpost and head for the Xenon Sector.




***

‘Ok people, we are now entering hostile territory! Get to your designated posts and prepare for war-time maneuvers! Comms, give me Engine bay!’ The orders were barked up by Commander J. F. Swatson, a thirty four year serving fleet Captain in charge of the USC Tokyo class Carrier christened ‘New Gettysburg.
‘Affirmative, sir! Engines on line three. We got Hangars on two and the Captain of the Osaka class Destroyer ‘Jericho’ requests a hearing on one. Comms out.’ Said communications officer Jim Johnson over the bridge intercom.
‘Engines, I want full power to the coils and be ready for maneuvers.’ Said the Captain and switched the comms line.
‘Sir, this is Hangar bay reporting in. We have all our pilots on the stand-by, all fighters are fueled and armed. We are good to go, sir. Out.’
‘Good to hear that, bays. Comms, get me line one secured.’
‘Aye-aye, captain. Line one secure!’
‘Captain Swatson, this is the Commander of the Osaka class Destroyer ‘Jericho’, designated security ID- Tango-Mike-1-Echo-Echo-Zulu-Foxtrot-Uniform Over, requesting hearing.’ Said Commander Seymour F. Williams, a third degree fleet Commander in the USC fleet.
‘I read you loud and clear, Commander Williams, permission granted. Channel secure.’
‘Permission to speak freely, sir.’
‘Granted, what’s on your mind. And it better be good.’ Said Swatson and switched the line to his personal headset.
‘Well, sir…’ Commander Williams started. ‘To be honest with you, I don’t like this. Neither do my men. We’re too small a convoy to be raiding this sector. Sure, it’s not a core sector but it still is a heavily guarded one.’
‘Don’t be a pussy Williams! Is this how you earned your rank? By questioning Command? I’ll have none of this, you hear! If Command wants us to go and storm a sector, we do it! Even if it’s bare naked in our spacesuits!’
‘Rodger sir… Jericho out…’ said Williams ant the channel went to static.
‘Sir… This is Navigation Room… Officer Victor Abrainski reporting the appearance of one unidentified object and are a long-range reading of a big Xenon fleet. Screens are not clear but we are getting varied data of at least two destroyers and some other craft, possibly frigates, maybe a lot of fighters bunched together. Nav. Room awaiting orders, sir. Out.’
‘Tag the unidentified object as Sierra-1, monitor it. Try and get all the possible information on that Xenon reading… Comms. Connect me to Weapons Bay.’ Said the Captain over the ship intercom which gave his voice a strange and creepy metallic echo.
‘Aye, sir. Weapons Bay connection open.’ Confirmed Jim Johnson and started calibrating some consoles.
‘Weapons- report! What’s your status? We’re gonna get in a lot of shit and I don’t want any excuses on jammed PSPs!’
‘Sir, we are charging up weapons reactors as we speak. Now at 78% and rising. ETA of full charge- 5 to 8 minutes.’ Said Weapons Officer Nicol Ivanov. ‘We’ve taken the liberty of mounting all the big capital weapons in their default places- PSPs at the sides all-round and SSCs up and down. For the front and rear we have a mixture on M/AM Launchers and SSCs.. Awaiting further orders.’
‘Keep at the good work, corporal.’



It's not completely finished, but it's still something...

[Seathal]

I like the speed of the events in the last part. Feels like you're really there hearing that man barking the orders and bossing around.