Upon a Sea of Stars Parts 1-2

[Pyroka]

This is my first attempt at writing a story, so advice is welcome. well, here goes nothing!!!

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Destination Found


The ship reentered normal space with a flash of blue light, which quickly faded as the hyperspace tunnel collapsed.

Then darkness ruled once more.

"Attention Commander Pyroka, we have arrived at the final waypoint. I have detected no objects within sensor range. I have started storing energy for the final jump to the coordinates that were found in the data core."

Opening his eyes, Pyroka stared at the ceiling for a long moment. "Understood. Any radio chatter?"

"None sir, however, they may be using a form of communication that does not rely on radio wave transmission. If this is the case, we would not be able to detect it"

He looked out the porthole, but saw nothing but the faint glow of a far off nebula and the cold points of light that marked the distant stars. "Are we sure we're even in the right place?"

"With a 95% certainty. However, there is the possibility that the coordinates recovered from the data core of the crashed ship were corrupted. The ship was badly damaged.

"I know the ship was damaged, I was the one who saw it crash. Speaking of damage, how is the jump drive holding up? Not sure I approve of using the same one that was in the ship when it crashed."

"I was not aware there was another jump drive."

"There wasn't, I would have rather the Court had waited until our scientists had reverse engineered the technology and built one for ourselves, it would have been safer."

"It would have wasted valuable time we could use to prepare our defenses."

"Assuming that the ship was a scout for an attack force, which I doubt, and even if it was, just look at how advanced it was. It can travel between the stars, while we can barely make it to the outskirts of our home system. I highly doubt that anything we can develop could stand against the weapons they would have."

"So what do you think the purpose of the ship was Commander?"

"Not sure, but I guess we will find out soon, won't we?"

"Yes, we will."

"How long until we are ready to make the final jump?"

"Approximately four arns and seventy three sectons."

"Good. I'm going back to sleep. And computer..."

"Yes?"

"If you wake me up before we are ready to jump, I will rewrite your data storage with a plasma cutter, understood?"

"Understood sir."

"Good, see you then."

He closed his eyes and dreamed of a home he might never see again.

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And that's it for part 1! part 2 may come later tonight if it comes together in my mind. Again, criticism is welcome so long as it is constructive!

[Edited on 11-4-2010 by Pyroka]

[Edited on 11-8-2010 by Pyroka]

[SeeJay]

Thats a great beginning Pyroka.

One suggestion is that you leave your readers with a "cliff-hanger" that will
make us all screaming for more.

Check Bossks story, he's really good at that, although I hate the wait!

All together, the story could evolve to a really interesting piece of work!;)

Keep up the good work.

[Pyroka]

Part 2 will be done by the end of the day, but I am off to a place with no internet:(, so it will be up by Monday.

Sorry for the delay,

[Maarschalk]

Very cool start. Looking forward to next part.....

[Pyroka]

WOOT!!! PART 2!!!!:D:D:D:D

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Unspoken Arrival


The computer's monotone voice pulled him from the comfort of his dreams back into reality. "Commander, jump capacitors are fully charged. We are ready to jump at your command. Shall I wait for you to arrive in the cockpit?"

"Roger that, I'm on my way." Pyroka rolled off his bed and stretched, smiling as he felt his spine move back into place. "That bed will be the death of me." he mumbled to himself. Then he was out of the room and off to the cockpit. As he entered, he paused to admire the vastness of the universe through the transparent canopy. “So easy to forget what lies just beyond these walls. How petty we must seem to them…� he whispered in awe.

“To who Commander?�

“The stars. They were here long before we were born, and they will be here long after we die.� He said reverently.

“Yes, that is true.�

The computer’s blunt confirmation annoyed him enough to break the spell, and he settled into the pilot’s seat. “Computer, bring up the HUD, and engage the jump drive.� The ship began to move forward, pulled along by the distortion in space created by the jump drive. Pyroka watched as the stars around him were obscured by the blue glow of a hyperspace tunnel. The light grew more intense each second, painful even through the adaptive filters of the polymer canopy. Then it was gone, replaced by the soft red of a nearby star. “Status report!� he called, his eyes still recovering from the blinding light of the jump.

“We have entered a star system, two planets orbiting a red dwarf. Also reading two stations, one above each planet, as well as several smaller objects that appear to be ships.�

“Right, take us towards the closest station, nice and slow, no hostile actions.�

"Understood. It may interest you to know that I am still detecting no transmissions on the radio band."

"So we can assume that they use some other method to communicate."

"That is the most logical conclusion. Station is coming into view over the planet's horizon now. I have highlighted it on your HUD."

The shear size of the station amazed him. "Computer, how big is that thing?"

"Approximately thirty malms on its longest axis."

A bright flash of blue near the station caught his attention. "Computer..."

"Detecting exotic particles consistent with a hyperspace tunnel collapse. Long range scans detecting a large object that was not there before. It appears to be a ship. We will be within short range scans momentarily, I will have more detailed information for you then."

"Can you tell me how large is 'Large'?"

"Between two and three malms."

"Does this race do everything big?" he wondered aloud.

"Was that a rhetorical question Commander?"

"Yes, it was." he sighed. "Are we within short range scanners yet?"

"Affirmative. While I am unable to determine the internal structure, I believe that the large ship is a carrier. I base this conclusion on the fact that it seems to have launched a pair of smaller craft, which are now approaching us at high speed. I have highlighted them on your HUD"

"Are they going to hit us?"

"Negative, their current trajectories will have them pass on either side of us."

"To give them a look at us and put them in a good firing position should the need arise."

Pyroka watched as the two ships passed his own. "Well, that was uneventful." he said dryly.

"Sir, the ships are slowing down. I believe they are attempting to match our speed."

"Oh joy, an escort."

"Sir?"

"Sarcasm."

"Sir, the ships have matched our course and speed, and are holding position five hundred yalms behind us."

"Understood. I am going to grab something to eat, let me know if things change." As he started to undo his harness, alarms went off.

"ALERT!!! INCOMING MISSILE!!!"

Pyroka gripped the controls to attempt to evade the deadly projectile, but it was already too late. The missile hammered home, and the force of the explosion slammed him headfirst against the canopy. Distantly, he heard more alarms, and the sound of rushing air, which faded as airtight bulkheads slid into place. He engaged the alarm override, and silence filled the cockpit.

"Sir, we have a problem."

The computer's synthesized voice was painfully loud. "Really?" he said weakly. "Hadn't noticed."

"Yes, well, the missile triggered secondary explosions in the starboard SPEC nacelle, shrapnel from which caused multiple hull breaches in the habitable portions of the ship, resulting in explosive decompression. The cockpit is the only area of the ship that is not exposed to hard vacuum." The computer paused, allowing him to take in all the information.

"And?"

"We have lost engines, and the force of the venting atmosphere has pushed us out of orbit. The ship is currently on a collision course with the planet. But that is the least of our concerns at the moment."

"How do figure?"

"The jump drive seems to be going critical. It will have stored enough energy to jump in approximately two sectons. In compliance with my programing to safeguard your life at all costs, I am jettisoning the crew compartment. At the very least, this will buy you several micro-sectons, and may in fact save your life."

As the computer finished, he felt the thump of the explosive bolts firing, then the steady vibration of the solid-fuel rockets as they pushed the crew compartment away from the rest of his doomed ship.

"I never thought it would end like this..." he whispered.

Time seemed to stretch to infinity, his heartbeat like a drum in his chest.

Then it happened.

Drawing in energy, but with no place to send it, the jump drive on the abandoned engineering portion of the ship entered a feedback loop, building power until no force in the universe could contain it. The fabric of space ripped. Almost instantly, the rip sealed, but in the time it was open, the full fury of hyperspace poured through, creating a superdense point of pure energy. The point expanded, a wall of the purest blue light, a wave of unstoppable destruction.

It engulfed the jettisoned crew compartment, slamming Pyroka into the canopy, and down into the darkness of sleep. The wave blasted the battered hull, but the ship held together. The shockwave passed, and the ship continued its decaying orbit to the ground.

Pyroka never felt the landing.

~~~~~

"Star Wolf Command, this is Wing Commander BraveHart, I've landed at the crash site."

"That was fast."

"Well, its not like it's hard to find a place to land, the ship took out quite a few trees on the way down."

"Heh, understood, can you enter the craft?"

"Oh yeah, the starboard side is pretty much one big hole. Heading in now"

"Be careful Brave."

"Found the pilot, you're going to want to have a look at this Captain."

"Human or Vonari?"

"Neither sir, I've never seen anything like it. Better get some xenobiologists down here, they might have a better idea of what I'm looking at."

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Part 2 done!!!!! hope that's a good cliffhanger, cause i think i have blisters on my fingers:o

sorry its so long, but there was a lot that needed to be done here to convey just how much is happening.

also!!! it should be clear to everyone now that the main character is an alien. if its not, read it again and pay attention this time so here are rough conversions for the distance and time units that have been used:

Time:
1 Arn = almost exactly 1 hour, there are 20 arns in a day on the main character's home world
1 Secton = 36 seconds, there are 100 sectons to an arn

Distance:
1 Yalm = about 1 meter
1 Malm = 2000 yalms, or 2 kilometers
1 Ilm(not used yet) = 1/100 of a yalm, or about 1 centimeter

[Edited on 11-8-2010 by Pyroka]

[SeeJay]

Excellent work Pyroka. Thats a real Cliffhanger. Spot on. Can't wait for the next part.

[Maarschalk]

Very Nice, excelent. Looking forward to more.