There is an unusual rumbling sound disturbing the quiet idyllic music comforting the late patrons at the bar in the recruitment center; though one would never really be able to tell what a “Late” hour was at a busy space station, the dimmed lights were programmed to create an ambiance of retirement hours for those whose shifts were done for the space day.
The Recruitment officer, a middle aged man was sipping at his gin looking slightly frustrated as usual. He gulped down some and frowned as he looked away staring outside the window of the bar, “I am so tired of this job”, he said without looking at his assistant who seemed nervously ready to nod his head at anything the officer said. “Yes ofc…..” he quickly lifted his glass and stifled a cough as he realized he was going to agree to something that could have been considered mockery by his boss.
“What are we recruiting these days?” he went on slightly curling his lip in disgust. “Criminals? Thugs? Turncoats and traitors? Brutes from all corners of the universe? Hell I’ll be damned if we don’t start recruiting aliens soon.” He runs his hand over his sweating bald head as he puts down his goblet.
“Oh I remember the ‘good old days’ when we had fine patriotic gentlemen looking for a fine lucrative career and the glory for serving this fine nation. All we have now is brutes trying to trade off their time for some military service. MERCENARIES!! We are hiring mercenaries for the queen that’s all!” He slammed his glass on the table as some disturbed onlookers turned to see what the commotion was all about.
The liquid trembled and rippled in the glass as he watched it dizzily. The rumble grew into a crescendo and the entire bar was shaking, the table was shaking and the glass was trembling. He looked at the goblet quizzically. How hard could he have slammed his fist on the table he wondered? Suddenly the sirens began to sound loud and a cold and measured female voice announced “Attention all personnel. Security breach! Security breach!”
As officers began to scramble to their defense stations and pilots began to rush to their hangars the drunken recruitment officer stared out the window wide eyed as a swirling electric blue light danced around an elongated structure that seemed to faintly materialize into existence. The assistant followed his gaze nervously and backed off stumbling on his stool as he took in the massive ship that was materializing right in front of the space station. It was the biggest ship he had ever witnessed in Bretonia. He stared at it in amazement as an officer quickly rushed to their side. She pulled up them up urging them to evacuate the bar immediately.
As they retreated stepping back still watching the craft that was materializing she said “O my god that...that”.....”That’s the Bretonia Carrier”, the assistant completed for her.
“It's not one of the three we already have!.”
A tense squadron of phaser rifle wielding guards watch attentively as the door to the docking bay slides open…
Quote:
If space can be infinitely large it must also be infinitely small
