Battleship Leviathan, in orbit around planet Malta 10:00 hours (universal time)
Admiral Jack Alpha was sitting in his office, across from him sat Vice Admiral Jennifer Taylor, a striking young 5'10 woman with dark hair and deep brown eyes, she also happened to be his new 2nd in command.
"I've read your profile Taylor, very impressive you should fit in fine here." said Jack trying to hold in a laugh. Her profile was impeccable except for one incident 11 months ago when a drunk bounty hunter tried to flirt with her, after several minutes the report said that she lost it and almost threw him out one of the airlocks on Corfu, if it hadnt been for a couple of brave zoners who manage to rescue him just in time. "Thanks you sir," replied Taylor trying to hold in a smile. "I went to read your profile and find out a little about you but its classified as special permission.""Hmmm is it still like that. Pffffft oh well most of its boring and not exactly bestseller material.""Still sir, if its alright i'd like to know a little." Taylor asked, Jack could swear she was using a very discreet form of the puppy dog eye routine girls sometimes use on men. *sigh* "Alright i'll have a think and put some important stuff on a datapad for you to read." said Jack, quickly realising that he had just fallen for one of the oldest tricks in the book. "Thank you sir" replied Taylor a smile on her face. "I should get back to the bridge.""Yes you should, if any is looking for me tell them im busy and am not to be disturbed. If they ask why you can tell them its all your fault." Taylor left the room laughing.
Well the sooner he got it started the sooner he could go and annoy someone. He sat for a while thinking about any relevant stuff that could be added when his mind drifted back to his childhood......
Planet New London 18 years ago
The grown ups were acting very wierd, well wierder than usual from what a 6 year old Jack could see, Damian had also noticed too. Damian was his twin brother, they were completely identical except from their eyes, Jacks were sky blue but Damians were emerald green.
From what they could hear it was mostly about their dad, Colonel Matthew Alpha, a high ranking officer who was serving under Admiral John Walsh, theire grandfather. When they asked their mum later that day she told them that he had gone to a better place and that they wouldnt see him for sometime. "oh thats all it is." said Damian "Yeah we thought it was something serious for a minute." There mum sent them away before breaking down into tears. "Whats up with her?" Jack said to Damian. "She always gets a bit sad when dad goes away on a long mission." What neither of the twins realised at the time was that their father was not away on one of his classified missions he had been killed in action, however the circumstances were classified the BAF wouldnt even tell their mother.
2 days later they found themselves at some kind of get-together onboard their grandfathers Battleship, The Illustrious. The twins were dressed in black just like everyone else there and there was a lot of people. "Whats with the black?" Damian
asked Jack. "Yeah its like we are all dressed for a funeral or something." Jack replied. "They all look real sad too." "Yeah they should all be happy, dad in some nicer place just now." Damian said. They both agreed that the grown ups were acting stranage and went to go find their grandfather. They found him standing with their mother who was obviously trying to hold back her tears, again they were wondering why she was sad when she should be happy. The man they were standing with was someone neither of the twins had seen before. He spoke with their mother and grandfather for a few minutes before leaving. as he left he stared at the twins for a few seconds before disappearing into the crowd. They spent some time talking with their grandfather before he led them to his office. Once in his office he showed them a pair of katana, specially made by one of Kusari's best swordsmiths especially for their grandfather. "One for each of you. When your a little older of course." Both of their faces lit up "Really grandad?" Oh wow cool." they both said in unison. "Ok boys i have some work to finish you to head back down the way we came and stay out of trouble." "Yes sir." They both said saluting as if they were BAF officers. However on the way back the lights flickered. "odd should that happen?" asked Jack sounding a little tense. "no i dont think so but lets stick together i dont like this." Suddenly the lights went out. It was pitch black for no longer than a second but when the lights went out Damian was gone. "Damian!....Damian!......DAMIAN!" Jack shouted at the top of his voice. But there was only silence. Suddenly he heard footsteps growing louder. It was his grandfather, "Jack are you ok where is Damian?" "I dont know the lights went out and on and he was gone." The colour from his grandfathers face drained away he grabbed Jack and tok him back to his office. Once inside he used the comm system to contact the bridge and have every room on every deck of the ship. Sitting for a while in his office Jack sat confused and petrified, he was soon joined by his mother who by this point was borderline hysterical. After the search was over the news wasnt what anyone wanted to hear, he was gone, vanished into thin air. Jack looked over at the 2 katana on the table in the corner of the office, their katana, only, something wasnt right, there was only 1, Jacks. Damians was gone, just like Damian himself. Eventually they got home that night but Jack couldnt sleep, he was scared, he had never had to sleep in their bedroom himself, Damian was always there as well.
3 days had passed since Damian disappeared and there was still no sign of him. His mum had become a reculse, locking herself in her room almost all day leaving Jack to fend for himself, He got by eating cereal that was usually only for breakfast. Whenever his mum was up she was rarely in the mood to talk to him, strangely though she did teahc him how to use the communicator properly, showing him how to contact his grandfather fast and easily. Jack really didnt know why she had shown him until the 4th day. He got up and went to check on his mum only to find she wasnt there. He searched the rest of the house but she was gone. Alpha then remembered that he could get his grandad on the communicator. "Dont worry Jack ill be there in 2 hours will you be alright until i get there?" was the first thing his grandad said after Jack told him that she was gone. "i guess so." was all that Alpha could bring himself to say. "Ok ill be there soon keep safe." and with that he was gone and suddenly it hit Jack that for the first time in his life he was all alone. And it scared him.........
To Be Continued.
(OOC: Please no one post until ive finished the whole thing, which judging by the way i like to ramble on may be a while.)
I know where it is Cortana, I just have to find it. - Commodore Puddles
BAF Gunboat Valiant Grid A4 Edinburgh 1800 (universal time) 7 Years ago
"What do you mean he has vanished?" said Jack obviously trying to control his rage. "I mean what i said lieutenant, your grandfather is missing, he left you this note saying that we werent to look for him. Obviously we are, the Gunboat Chivalry was dispatched to search the surrounding systems for any signs. Your grandfather knew a lot about current missions, we can risk him being captured and our enemies learning the valuable information he knows." replied Commander Rankin "Now your have the bridge until you are relieved in 8 hours Alpha. Dismissed." As Jack left Rankins office he was completely confused. First his grandfather announces his retirement suddenly a week ago, now he has disappeared and so has his ships, his money and half the stuff he kept in his house. No something wasnt right here Admirals retired or not dont just vanish. Unless they want to. It was getting all too confusing and Jack had to focus on the task at hand. He was first mate of the Gunboat Valiant, one of 4 gunboats assigned to the BAF Intelligence Division section 4. Section 4 was tasked with counter intelligence mostly and taking out key pirate leaders whether they be Corsair, Molly or even one of those useless Gaians that floated about Edinburgh trying to halt the terraforming of planet Ayr. But recently someone had hacked into the main database that held information from all 4 sections, and was supposed to be for the eyes of high ranking members in the Admiralty only. But still someone got in so everyone who had so much as touched a console in the past 6 months was under investigation. The 8 hour shift went in painfully slowly, just his luck. He walked back to his quarters tired and not looking forward to tomorrow, just a normal night for him.
He was woken up early the next morning by the sound of the room door sliding open and shut. He opened his eyes to see 2 marines standing there looking grim faced. He knew them, one was Jenkins and the other was Jones, he often spoke with them on his down time in the bar and once he was their temporary commander on a classified mission on planet Harris. Sorry sir but we just been given orders to place you under arrest. Said Jones holding up a pair of handcuffs. What? On what grounds? replied Jack jumping from his bed. HQ says they have evidence that it was you who was behind the security breach in the main intelligence database. Said Jenkins. You cant be serious. Said Jack pulling on his uniform. Sorry sir but could you come with us. They lead Jack down to the brig where he spent some time before Commander Rankin arrived. Sir, do they really have evidence? Said Jack as stood and saluted. Apparently they do however they are keeping their cards close to their chest. Forrest went off his nut with them. Vice Admiral Forrest was head of section 4 and a good friend of Jacks grandfather. It was that friendship that got Jack into Section 4 in the first place. But Im afraid its out of my hands now son, Im sorry ordered to take you to the York, then you will be transported to New London where you will b brought before the Admiralty. Continued to Rankin. Rankin headed towards the door but just before he left he said Jack. You do remember the punishment for treason dont you? Yes sir. Death. Answered Jack as Rankin left the room.
It seemed that standard BAF procedures were being ignored in Jacks case. It only took a week since he was taken aboard the York before he was standing before the BAF Admiralty. The evidence presented at the trial was all nonsense, which only added to Jacks confusion. Jack Alpha we the Admiralty of the BAF find you guilty of high treason against the house of Bretonia. Began Admiral Adams, However due to the many protests we have received from fellow officers we have decided that your punishment shall be banishment from Bretonia space. Should you ever again be found here you will be killed. Banishment, not execution, fellow officers sticking their necks out for him, somehow he doubted that, he had only been out of the academy for 8months, he had only been posted to one ship, he didnt know enough people to make a difference. But still he was to be spared and he should be thankful even if it didnt seem right.
He was taken to a transport and told that he was to board the zoner transport heading for Freeport 2. He was escorted aboard and left in his quarters. After the transport had disembarked Jack was summoned to the Bridge. Once there he was met by a middle-aged man who told him that he was the transport Captain. He led Jack into his small office and shut the door. Well Im afraid Im the bearer of more bad news Alpha. We were supposed to be transporting supplies to Freeport 2 however the whole system is running ahead of schedule so we are actually transporting zoner families to Freeport 9 in Omicron Theta. Alpha remained silent, by this point he didnt care where he was going as long as it was away from Bretonia and those who had set him up. We would prefer it if you would remain in yo. He didnt get the chance to finish as there was a loud explosion coming from the far end of the ship.
The warning sirens came on and both Jack and the Captain ran into the bridge. What the hell was that! shouted the Captain Sir strange ships are attacking us Im putting them on the main screen. Replied the Security officer. On the main screen strange black and grey ships appeared they seem to be reforming for their next volley. But Jack knew what they were. They were top secret BAF Black Ops ships. They were equipped with deadly experimental pulse torpedoes. They were in trouble. Get away from those consoles or your dead! screamed Alpha as loud as possible. Strangely they listened and all abandoned their posts, just in time the torpedoes blew out most of the consoles. If they hadnt moved most would be dead and the others would have severe burns. The comm is out everyone knows the drill get to your sections and get as many to the escape pods as possible. Alpha head straight to the pods help anyone you meet on the way. Shouted the Captain. Everyone moved out and Jack headed straight for the escape pods he had been told to go to in the event of an emergency. As he ran he was surprised not to have seen anyone. Until he rounded a corner when he saw a group of confused zoners, men, woman and children. The ships going to blow get to the escape pods. They didnt need told twice before they were running. The small children in their parents arms. As they ran by Jacks quarters he realised that his katana, The one is grandfather gave him was still in there. He couldnt leave it, it had sentimental value. Keep going Ill catch up. Jack doubted anyone would have stopped even if they had noticed he wasnt there. He ran inside and grabbed it and then continued towards the escape pods. He had only ran 100 yards when a piece of the roof collapsed and fell to the ground, the jagged torn part struck Jack on the head knocking him out. Lying on the ground with a cracked skull and a huge gash on his head Jack blacked out with the ships hull and internal structure buckling around him
To Be Continued..
I know where it is Cortana, I just have to find it. - Commodore Puddles