This is the tale of Liam Shaw, Zoner by birth, researcher by brain, explorer by blood. The story of his ongoing journey, past - present - future, will come to bear, and unknown events might unfold along the way. Along with a few fellow friends and colleagues, Liam takes on life one day at a time, working currently with the Ingenuus Research Group. Though this had been a long ways coming, it all begins, deep in the Omicrons, aboard the Hathor-Class Gunboat 'Cyzicus' - turned to deep space explorer and research vessel, with enough power to defend itself deep in space, far from the next civilization.
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Professor William Shaw, Liam's father, was the captain and owner of the Cyzicus at the time before Liam's birth. Along with a few researchers and his wife, Katherine, he was spending months at a time, studying samples of Nomadic nature, far from where anyone could hound him about it, far from the reaches of anyone who wouldn't approve of such research. He had a simple goal in life, which was easier said than done. He wanted to use the power that nomadic tissue held and use it for the greater good - Medical Supplies. It had been his vision that he could somehow alter or take strands of the samples he collected and use them to combine them with known medical pharmaceuticals to either enhance their effects, or perhaps create an entirely new drug.
Though at the current time, there was one other thing on his mind that kept him busy. Katherine was pregnant with their first son and she would bring him to this world soon. William did not want his son to be born aboard the ship, somewhere out from civilization where, if something went wrong, they could not get help. As such, the journey took the Cyzicus to the Omicron Theta System and to Freeport Nine. The Professor had a few friends there who were more than willing to help him secure a dock and a place in the medical ward. The preparations were made, and William was at peace with the situation his son could be born in.
'Liam Shaw, 7lbs 13oz, 20 in.' Read the little certificate attached to the small cradle which stood by Katherines bed, though Katherine was not as well as small Liam. She had fallen ill just days after giving birth, and the doctors on Freeport Nine were at a point where they could just try their best. Katherine had high fever, was coughing constantly, and had a few other symptoms which came and went, which is why the medical staff was so on edge with the case. It did not seem infectious, which is why they left the cradle by the bedside, and were checking on Katherine multiple times a day, but everything they tried was futile. William Shaw was going through one of the best and yet worst timespans of his lifetime. He was rejoiced at the birth of his son, yet he was worried and beyond cheerable about his wife.
Weeks had passed since the illness had struck Katherine, and she went through highs and lows, phases of good, and phases of bad. Little Liam had since been moved with his father, who cared for him aboard the Cyzicus which laid in dock. Through all the well that had come over William and his son, support of friends and family, one thing had become clear. Katherines internal organs were failing, and it would not be soon now that she would be took from William, and little Liam would lose his mother.
The following installment of the ongoing Saga of Liam Shaw will deal with his childhood, growing up without his mother, and his father flying amongst the stars. How it was growing up aboard a Gunboat sized vessel with but a few men of the crew, and meeting one or the other people at stops throughout the galaxy.
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Almost a year had passed since the darkness had taken Liam's mother when he was just a few months old. An incurable sickness has taken over her body, beat her immune system and destroyed her from the inside out. On the outside she had looked fine for the longest time, all while her organs were taken apart by the infection. Liam was still young when he set out again with his father aboard the Cyzicus, but ofcourse with being only about two years old, Liam did not notice much of time. It wasn't until he was ten years old that he was finally allowed to help his father amongst the stars. Years had passed where the research vessel barely met with civilization, as his father had preferred it, docking only to restock on supplies, or buy new equipment. Most of the days were spent in the laboratories, trying to finally reach that one breakthrough. William Shaw had created smaller phramaceuticals, though noone had picked up on them, basically vanishing them from existance, not to be seen by the masses.
When he was fourteen years old, during a visit to Rheinland, Liam met the first real girl that he would call a friend, and he grew fond of her but having only stayed in Rheinland for little time, it never fruitioned into anything more. That was what he'd received from fate, a life on this ship, away from Civilization. Atleast that was the way it had went until he was nineteen years old. The crew and ship would only stay at one station for so long, a day, a few days, a week, never more than a month. As such he had a very small circle of friends, few he kept in contact with over the Neural-Net.
The fateful day that he received the message of his fathers peaceful passing, the ship was moored at his birthplace, Freeport 9. Liam rushed to the medical ward, to his fathers bed. The body laid covered by a sheet, a nurse standing by it. She said her condolences to him and left the room, allowing Liam to take the place by his fathers bed. He had died peacefully, of age. He'd not left the room for hours, mourning the loss of his only remaining parent. When the nurse returned with a lawyer, Liam was awaiting what he had to say. It was the Will his father had left, the heirlooms. William had left everything to him, the ship, the research, everything. Even the crew stayed loyal to him, something that Liam very much appriciated because the familiar surrounding would ensure that he could live his life on and not have to re-vamp everything. A proper burial wouldn't have been possible, though cremation was undertaken and the urn shot into the sun in the system.
After everything had been taken care of, the crew instructed, the ship supplied, repaired and improved, Liam took to the stars, to make a name for himself, and to finally finish his fathers work.
We've come to a point in this story, where Liam will begin to make friends, and those friends will also be invited to post here shall the time be right. Having lost his parents, and with barely anyone but the Cyzicus' Crew around him, Liam sets out to the stars to make a name for himself and live his life.
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Liam and the crew had mourned the passing of Professor William Shaw for a week by not setting out to the stars just yet. Freeport Nine was like a home to them all, so it seemed like the most logical place to stay for the time being. They'd spent their days in the bars or just aboard the ship, working on what they had left, taking care of their families, making sure bills were paid and everything was in order. The Crew's communications lit up as Liam had sent them all a message, he wanted them all to meet in Freeport Nine's most prominent bar. He had reserved a table for them, drinks were served and so was food, he wanted to show them that he cared for them just like his father did before him. By the time all the crew members had arrived, Liam raised his glass in a toast. "Tonight, we celebrate in the name of my father, William. May we continue his work, and may we create a legacy of our own." The Crew replied with a strong "Aye". The evening drug out long, they drank, ate, had laughs and enjoyed the time together. Liam was the quietest of them all, he mostly took to talking to Chief Alenko, his engineer, whom had also lost a parent and took to the Cyzicus as his retreat. "Alenko, we have much in common you and I, and you've always been a good friend to me. Father left me the ship, the research, and the crew. Though I will take care of you all, and make sure you return home from the adventures with me, I want to make sure you're taken care of. That you all are taken care of." Liam turned to everyone. "Tonight is completely on me, ontop of that, each of your bank accounts has been wired some credits. I thank you all truely for the service you've done to my family, and for sticking with me through these trying times."
He then stood up, emptied his glass and cleared his throat as he looked at each of the men, who were now looking to him. "Gentlemen, you are the best crew anyone could hope for, from the Engineering to the Research, from Cook to Navigator. I call you all my friends and my family. Enjoy the night, drink, eat but be assured to rest well tonight, because tomorrow, we set out to create our own legacy. Tomorrow we begin our journey through the starts and be assured that we will not stop, we will not faulter. We will be known throughout the Omicrons and further, that the Cyzicus is a vessel to be respected. We may be a research team, but we have some fight in us all should it be needed. Gentlemen, we set out in the Light of Dawn."
He'd nod to all of them, shaking each of their hands before he waved to the barkeeper to give them another round. He said his goodbyes and then left the Bar, leaving his crew to enjoy the night. Liam returned to his quarters aboard the ship, closing the door behind him he couldn't help but wonder about the future. There was no clue as to what it would hold for him, but all he could do was hope for the best, and be sure to not fail his men. The lights turned off and he was soon fast asleep. Come tomorrow, a new life shall begin. The Light of Dawn will accompany them to their new future.