Lockes Untitled Scifi Novel

[Locke]

Prologue

As we exited slipspace the station inside the nebula came into view. My name is Gwen Martell and I’ve been searching for the station and ship my father flew with during the time the Uniden Faction was in control of the Galaxy. Not only did I find were the ship is I also found were the station is, and what a coincidence the ship is actually on the station “thankfully”. The ship is a Thrasher-Class Transport the “Shooting Star”. These ships are know for heavy modification that smugglers use, and the station is an old Science research lab that was out of use for about a decade and a half before the Crew of the “Shooting Star” started using it. They used as a base of operations for the cargo work and its were they lived when not running cargo or well just messing around with the Uni’s as they called anyone Uniden back in that time.
“Well here goes nothing,” I said, “take us in.” As the ship moved forward the shadow caused by part of the nebula was cast off of it.
“Solar.” said the pilot.
“Solar indeed.” I replied.
My comm. officers interrupted “Gwen it seems you need a password to open the airlock doors.”
“Ah yes,” I said as I reached over to the console and typed in the code: VS-T01X36-MK6 “My fathers’ serial number when he was in the NRN.”
“Your Dad was a New Republic Navy fighter pilot?” said my comm. officer very surprised I might add.
“Yeah Valentine Squadron”
“That is the most Solar thing I’ve heard all day I think. Weren’t they supposed to be the best of the best in the Galaxy?”
“You bet your butt they are,” our pilot quickly added in, “we’ll next to the pilot of the “Shooting Star” of course I’ve seen security vids from Uniden cruisers in pursuit of them and for flying a transport ship all I can say is dam that pilot is good.”
I just started shaking my head thinking that the pilot in those vids was either my Dad or Margret the actual owner of the “Shooting Star”. While in my moment of thought I was suddenly snapped out of it when a loud sound came out the comm. speakers.
“Hanger Bay open.” Said the computer in Margrets voice she must have programmed the computer.
“Take us in.” I said. As we moved into the bay I was suddenly in a stat of awe when I saw the “Shooting Star” and directly behind it my fathers fighter from the NRN a MK6 Cobra Fighter thee single best fighter in all of the NRN’s fleets well as long as the pilot was good that is. And of course that was before the NRN got into a war with the Uniden Faction. I feel kind of bad for the NRN they just got out of rebelling against an evil dictatorship that called themselves the Combined Systems Alliance or CSA, just 20 years before Uniden rebelled claiming a religious war from God. And the sad part is that more people supported Uniden which I don’t get, but whatever the New Republic got control back 10 years after the NR-you War (New Republic – Uniden War) was over.
I started heading for landing ramp, as I looked down it the crew was just staring out the window then I realized why as I walked behind the “Shooting Star” I saw out of the corner of my eye something that made me drop everything I was carrying. As I stared at my fathers fighter tears came to my eyes. I read the name underneath his serial number over and over.
Gwenivere
It was my full name. I can’t believe I was named after the ship that saved his life and that of quiet a few other people. The search crews came over and one of them asked me,
“Hey what’s wrong Gwen?”
“Nothing, nothing at all.” I said as I turned to face them. “Ok teams one will check out the cargo area, team two check the command deck, and team three with me habitation deck.” As we stepped into the elevator I was still in shock from seeing the name of my fathers ship I just couldn’t believe it.
“Hey Gwen.” said one of the crew that was with me.
“Yeah.”
“What happened to your father?”
“Ya know I’m not really sure I thinks that’s why I signed up for this mission anyways, not to find out find the infamous “Shooting Star” but to find out what happened to my Dad. My Mom only told me recently that he was one of the crew of the “Shooting Star” during the Uniden Factions rule. And I think there might be a clue to where he is now on this station he left after I graduated from the University of Galactic Social Archeology.”
“Well I hope we can help you find what you are looking for.”
“Thanks I appreciate it.” I said as the elevator doors opened. As I walked down the hall I looked at the doors on either side they had the names of the Crew members on them. When I got to the one that said “David Martell” I just kept looking at it but I said to the team.
“Ok guys everyone take a room call if you find anything interesting.” They all turned and went into the respective rooms, and then I walked in to my fathers room feeling very very scared. I looked around I saw his computer, bed, closet, and what looked like an old military duffel bag. I opened the bag first and found his old flight uniform and some other personal items but a small metal box caught my eye. I opened it and found his SPIDER (spectral, personal, information, data, electronic, readout.) I put it on his desk and decided to move to the closet not expecting to find anything. But when I opened it I found the last thing I ever expected to find anywhere. His black leather duster with the Valentine Squad Crest on the inside. I put it on thinking of all the pictures I had seen him in; he always had his hands in the pockets so I did the same. But as I faced the mirror my faced turned to horror I pulled out a purple data crystal. Purple data crystals were used for Journals and personal logs. I looked at it then at the computer I put the crystal in and a window came up saying password required so I entered his serial number. The screen flashed. INVAILD PASSWORD Instantly I knew what it had to be I entered it and a video came up of my father when he was younger. Caucasian, long black hair a beard and goatee. But the one feature of his that stuck out the most was his grey eyes. He started to talk.
“Hi my name is David Martell and this is how I went from being a NRN pilot to a member of the Transport ship the “Shooting Star” here’s my story.

[Locke]

sorry if there are typos or grammer errors

[JediKaren]

sounds good. Keep at it.

[Messenger II]

Sci-fi indeed, I think it's good.

[Locke]

Chapter 1

As I got off the landing ship and stepped out onto the landing deck I just looked around in awe. I was currently standing in the cavernous landing bay of a Red Giant Class NRN-Heavy Cruiser. Looking around all I saw was well ships. That’s why I was here because I had just graduated the NRN Academy as a pilot, top of my class I might add.
“Yo David come on.” said my friend and room mate Lorena.
“Ya ya ya I’m coming.” I said as I tried to catch up with her without dropping my stuff.
Hi my name is David Martell I’m 19 and well I’m a flight recruit on this Cruiser the “Hurricane” I had left high school on Planet Xenos in the Tau 6 system. My family ran a bar and cargo distribution center there. The planet was somewhat small in the ice covered system the planet was all snow but strangely it was always around 68 degrees. Supposedly the ice there had some weird thing in it that made it melt at a very hot temp but I got feed up with that so I decided that the NRN was for me anyways I like to fly.
“Hey David stop daydreaming were next to register.” said Lorena.
“Oh sorry.”
Lorena Lazuli was my friend from Lazuli Station about half way across the Tau 6 system which with my old ship was about a 5 minute ride. Her family ran the station and our two families have a very good system set up together that’s how we meet. We had been the best of friends for a long time all through out school and both natural pilots. Although I am still scared of her when she gets a gun in her hands though she is the best shot I have ever know. From are days as kids I always called her Links don’t know why though, just did.
As we stepped up to the registration desk I saw there were still two tryout spots left on the list for Valentine Squadron, which was supposed to be the best in the NRN. But like always Lorena beat me to it and put our names down while she did that I went and signed us up in a room. As we all awaited our tour guides to show us around the ship I looked over at the mechanics working on a personnel shuttle. They were all well I guess you could say grease monkeys but one of them stood out. For one his jumpsuit was different and he looked like a grease ape not a monkey. He had black spiked hair with green tips and was a little shorter than me at about 5’9 5’10 and well just another white dude. He was just about to start something when I realized that everyone had guides except Lorena and I. I asked a pilot I saw walking by.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes.” he responded.
“We’re new and there our no more guides left.”
“Ah, this always seems to happen, hold on.” He looked at some of the mechanics to see which one he would give us I guess.
He began to smile “Ah I know exactly who to give you guys. You are going to like him trust me.” He put his hands to his mouth, “WIRES GET OVER HERE.”
“Coming!” I heard as that one guy I had been watching earlier strolled over.
“Yeah what is it sir.” He said as he wiped the grease off his hands.
The pilot motioned to Lorena and I. “These two need a guide.” The mechanic shook his head. The pilot started speaking again. “Ok you two this here is Zack our CM Chief Mechanic we all just like to call him Wires though, see you guys later.” As he walked away Zack faced us.
“Sup guys what you think of the ship pretty solar huh.”
“Yeah sure is.” Lorena said.
“Oh sorry you got my name I didn’t get yours.” he said looking at me.
“Ah yes well I’m David Martell and this is Lorena.” I said but she interrupted very quickly.
“But my friends call me Links.”
“I call you that.” I said.
“I know but Zack or Wires here seems like a nice enough guy.”
“You beat I am well at only being 16 and being CM on a big ship like this I was lucky and I won a few games of sing-gular.”
“What the hell is sing-gular?” I asked.
“A very cool card game I’ll show you show time. Anyways David, Links lets get going on the tour.”
An hour later after he showed us everything we got to our quarters that just happened to be down the hall from Zacks.
“We’ll here you are hope you guys like it and oh, if you don’t mind me asking what squads did you guys sign up to do tryouts for.”
Lorena and I both looked at each other and said at the same time for Zack.
“Valentine Squadron.”
I would have sworn if Zack had been drinking something it would have come out of his nose.
“WHAT! Are you two nuts, do you know how hard it is to get into V-Squad.”
“Zack Zack Zack. Don’t worry we both graduated at the top of our class at flight school.” Lorena said.
“All I can say is get a good night sleep and good dam luck.”
“Ok see you tomorrow Zack” I said.
“Night David, night Links.” He said as he walked back toward the elevator shaking his head in what I think was astonishment. We went inside it wasn’t much but it was still pretty cool two beds a closet a desk and a little food locker.
“Well let’s make ourselves at home.” said Lorena.
“Yeah. Hey Links, what do you think we have to do for our tryouts tomorrow.”
“Yeah know, I have no idea but I’ve felt the slipspace engines on for a while we can go the observation room it’s down the hall.”
“Observation room?”
“It’s a room with a bunch of couches and chairs and a bar with a nice big window with a view of the whole ship we can go see were we are maybe we can figure out what we have to do.”
“Ok let’s change out of these flight uniforms first.”
“Good idea.”
So after we unpacked and changed we headed down the hall for the observation room and found a couch and I went over to the bar to get some drinks. Lorena was a nice girl not that I would go out with her though she has been like my only friend for such a long time. She was kind of short of African descent always has had weird hair though but then again who doesn’t now a days. I went up to the bar and there was this Caucasian guy there making drinks he had glasses and dark blonde hair and a sidearm on his belt.
“Hey dude what can I do ya for.” said the bartender.
“Uh not sure.”
“You’re new aren’t you? I’ve never seen you here before.”
“Yeah me and my friend over there.” I pointed to Lorena who was having a good time trying to figure out were we were.
“Well I’m Moreau.”
“David.” I said as I shook his hand I didn’t expect his grip to be so strong for a small white guy.
“And I’m Links you keep forgetting to introduce me to new people David.” Said Lorena. She always had this knack for sneaking up behind me when I least expected it kind of creepy one moment she’ll be sitting across the room the next she will be we sitting across the table from you.
“Well it’s nice to meet you guys.” he reached down and grabbed a drink, “Here I think you will like this Links.” He handed her the drink it was a bright neon green but smelled of strawberries.
“Thanks. I’ll see ya later David. Nice meeting you Moreau.” She said as she walked away always full of energy and cheer.
“Well she is nice.”
“Yeah she is but try living with her ya know she is a little strange but I’m a little to myself. Been best friends forever.” I said rubbing my beard.
“Well you’ll get over it anyways. You should get some sleep you probably got a big day tomorrow.” He said as he handed me a drink looked and smelled like some weird whiskey. Probably his own concoction.
“That’s easy for you to say bad Insomnia.”
“You to huh.” I just looked at him like what. “Wires, I saw you with him earlier, he has the same problem.” He looked down and started mixing a drink as he took away the other one and chugged it. “This is a little something I made when Wires joined, to help him sleep it smells horrible but it will put you out like a rock.” He put all this ingredient into what looked like a mixer, the liquid inside was a bright creamy red. He mixed it up and squeezed out this clear liquid but only enough to fill a shot glass. I held it to my mouth it smelled like God only know what.
“Told ya it smells horrible.” He said laughing. “Ok ok ok. I’ll let you in on a secret hold your nose and just tilt your head back and down It.”
“If you say so.” So I did and it didn’t really have a taste but felt like swallowing well the best I can describe it is liquid air. When I put down the glass I realized it had a weird copper after taste.
“Ha ha yes I did it right.” I looked up at him in horror thinking *what the hell does he mean he did it right.*
“Copper aftertaste right.” I shook my head. “I call it Nova Z”
“Sounds like a drug.”
“Hey yeah it does ha no I call it that because if I mix it wrong you will instantly have a headache that feels like a supernova just went off in your skull and you will pass out for 12 hours 30 seconds after that.” He said laughing.
“Well thanks” I said as I got up and headed for the door. But I turned around. “Hey Moreau.”
“Yeah.”
“What is the gun for?”
“People that don’t pay for there drinks.” My face turned white he didn’t strike me as the kind of person that would mess around with you about that. But then he started laughing. “Let me guess you’ll put it on my tab?”
“Yeah.”
“Well got to go see ya tomorrow”
“Ok see ya good luck tomorrow.” He said as he picked up a toy ship and smashed a rock he was using as a paper weight into it.

[Locke]

Chapter 2

I was really nervous with what Moreau did last night with the ship and rock Lorena figured out last night that we were in the biggest asteroid field in this half of the galaxy. So I just keep thinking we are going to have to do some insane course that the best of the best have set up. As Lorena and I were walking down the hallway with all the squad rooms each equipped with lockers for each member and a briefing room. Each squad on a NRN ship had different jobs some mining, others transport, escort, and ours Valentine Squadron was know for doing high risk missions of utmost importance such as espionage and full on attack on facilities with 6 squads of fighters vs. there one of 6 hopefully in a little while 8 ships. Only 8 because every one else that signed up had either chickened out or heard some stories of the stuff they have to do and thought that there is no way they were good enough. But as always Lorena and I were confident that we could pull off flying with the best.
“Well here we are.” Lorena said as she pointed to a door with a heart with a sword behind it and the Valentine Rules of Engagement written below.
Valentine Rules of Engagement
Talk first
Run second
And if all else fails shoot the basterds
“Yeah I’ve heard about this.” pointing to the rules. “They are diplomats, if that don’t work they fly like crazy and if that fails they will become the galaxies best fighter pilots and take out squads of ships in minutes.”
“Yeah, are you sure we’re up for this David.” Lorena said sounding a little scared.
“Links,” I said putting my hand on her shoulder. “You’re the one that talked me into this in the first place remember.”
“Yeah you’re right.”
“Links and David eh.” Said a voice from behind us. “I’m the head of V-Squad Maxton but you guys will call me Lt. Major.” We looked at him a little intimidated. “Just kidding you can call me Max we’re not strict in V-Squad that’s what makes us so good we just go out and have fun doing our mission of course.”
“Well I’m David Martell.” I said and turned to Lorena.
“And I’m Lorena Lazuli or as David calls me Links.”
“Nice to meet you guys come on in everyone else is off on a mission for the week so it’s just us, that’s if you guys can make it in.” as he walked in I turned toward Lorena.
“Are you sure it’s the asteroid field.”
“Yeah positive why else would we be at the largest one well, any where.”
“Ok ok you got a point but are we sure; I mean these guys are good real good.”
“David don’t worry we’ll be fine anyways what the worst that could happen.”
As we walked in the proximity alert went off. The board for the mission briefings had the V-Squad crest on it but it quickly changed to the ship wide radar, we saw that there were six waves of unknown fighters inbound. Maxton turned around and looked at us and smiled.
“Well forget doing the course through the asteroid field go to the hanger bay and tell Zack MK6 from Maxton.”
“Told ya so.” Said Lorena under her breath.
“Go on guys get out there and help I want to see you both take out a squadron or two together” We looked at each other thinking great I would have taken flying around asteroids, now we have to fight other people while flying around asteroids. As we started running to the hanger bay and got in an elevator. Lorena turned to me.
“David what does MK6 mean?”
“To be perfectly honest I don’t know but I’ll bet you a drink at the lounge later it’s a ship.”
She shook my hand. “You’re on. And whoever gets more kills does laundry for a week.” I shook my head.
As we stepped out of the elevator all I saw were pilots getting into ships launching out f the bay and mechanics doing checks on ships that haven’t launched. We both stopped and started looking around for Zack. Thankfully we were already in our flight suits. I saw a mechanic walking by and I thought he should know.
I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around and saluted I figured I mine as well so I saluted back.
“Just a recruit dude.” I said.
“I don’t care I show you guys respect I mean you’re the ones that go out there. Anyways what do ya need sir.”
“Where is Zack.”
“Who?”
“Wires.”
“Oh. Sorry we all use his nickname hold on.” He walked over to the wall and picked a microphone up off the wall. “CM Wires report to the elevator east hanger bay ASAP.” He turned around. “He’ll be here in a second got to go.”
“Thanks.” Lorena and I both said.
“David Links what’s up I didn’t know you guys were in V-squad yet.”
“Wait what?” said Lorena.
“You’re in V-squad right otherwise why would you be flying combat.”
“Oh sorry Maxton decided to change are test and said go to the bay and tell you MK 6”
“Wait wait wait. Did you say MK 6.”
“Yes I think that’s what he said Wires.” Lorena interrupted me. Well not really.
“Ok all I can say is you two are about to be the luckiest recruits in the air right now.”
“Why is that Zack?” I said.
“Because the MK 6 is a Mark 6 Cobra Heavy Fighter. It is the best the NRN has ever built only used by V-Squad due to the fact it takes a skilled pilot and the fact in can out fly any other ship currently in existence.”
“Oh.” I think Zack was about to laugh because I’m sure Lorena and I both probably looked like babies about to get a huge piece of candy or something.
“We’ll come on don’t want you guys to miss all the action.”
He led us over to a separate hanger bay the V-Squad crest on the door heading into it. When we walked inside Lorena and I had our jaws drop as far as they possibly could. It was a bay made to house a certain kind of ship the Cobra Mark 6 and there were three left, we but only assumed that the one with a killer paint job must be Maxton’s.
“We’ll guys hop in V-Squad also has there own launch tubes lucky guys. Well get in I’ll get your ships and tubes started up and remember this one thing. That the ships you are about to use react better than you could possibly imagine and don’t freak out about the helmets.”
We both just stared thinking man what is someone not telling me this time first with that Nova-Z drink of Moreau’s.
Lorena asked before I could. “Wires what do you mean don’t freak about the helmets?”
“What Maxton didn’t tell you.” We just kept staring. “Oh I guess not the reason they are so maneuverable is because the helmet reads your mind what ever you want the ship to do it does even before you move the controls.”
“Links all I can say is this is going to be interesting.”
“You can say that again.”
And with that we were in the ships and ready to launch. Zack had the ships put in launch tubes and right before we launched Maxton’s voice came on.
“David, Links you two will be designated VS-07 and VS-08 good luck and try to bring those ships back in one piece they’re expensive as hell.”
And with that we were in space.
The ship well, it is doing exactly what Zack said it would do and that is move before you tell it to.
“Well David here we go there are 4 squads of ships left lets take the nearest one.”
“You got it Links.”
We throttled forward and the enemy ship data came in they were Uniden fighters. Man these Uniden guys just keep getting more and more ships recently. And there taking on NRN Cruisers for crying out loud. Well they saw us and turned and ran and before I could even do it the ship brought up weapons controls and I saw that these things were called heavy fighters for a reason. They are packed to the brim with weapons.
“Links did you find the weapons yet.”
“Yeah I sure did remember the one with least kills has to do laundry.”
With that I launched a full volley of missiles and started firing the main guns at the two closest fighters and to my surprise the guns were plasma. Most ships use bullets and I thought plasma was still experimental well I guess V-Squad gets all the cool toys. Right off to bat I took out the first two and moved on to the next ones and I was getting a ship I my sights I saw there was one behind me and before I could do anything my ship launched a homing mine at it.
“Hey Links there’s four.”
“Yeah yeah yeah don’t get cocky. But all I can say is dam these ships are cool.”
I got distracted for a second and when I looked forward I saw that I was about to crash into another ship but before I could do anything my ship jolted upward to avoid crashing.
“David how the hell did you do that.”
“I actually don’t know the ship just did it.”
“Well you are lucky, that could have killed you oh and look forward.”
And before I could say anything I shot at the ship and it blew up.
“Hey Links one squad down one more to go”
“Why don’t we make it two everyone else is a little slow.”
“You’re on.”
So we split up and with a few minutes we had both taken out another squad of fighters these ships were amazing they just react before you can or at least before you body can. Maxton’s voice came over the comm.
“Nice job you guys David especially, you two are both in and David you handled the MK 6 like a natural.”
“Actually sir it was the ship it reacted for me, kinda strange.”
“Well that’s good that means that your mind is taking over when you can’t, trust me that’s the one reason a V-squad pilot has never died.”
“Thanks sir.”
“Well you two earned a break the rest of the squad doesn’t get back for two days so I will give you guys some shore leave till then for your good performance out there we will be stopping by planet Ambrosia for a week in dry dock later this day anyways get back to the ship you guys did good for your first day out.”
And as we seem to always do “Sure thing Max.” we said I unison.
As soon as we got back to the cruiser hanger bay Zack was right there to congratulate us on our performance and acceptance.
“HA ha I knew you guys would do it.”
“Wires you thought we were crazy” said Links
“Well what can we say us simple people from backwater systems got some skills.” Zack said.
“And I think you owe me a drink at the lounge and a weeks worth of laundry.” I said to Lorena.
“Oh that reminds me there a big game of Sing-gular in an hour you guys wanna come watch.” Zack said.
“Sure are you playing Wires.” I replied.
“Yep, sure am.” He said at the same moment another one of his mechanics walked by.
“Yeah against the best Sing-gular player there is in this half of the galaxy.” The mechanic said.
“Ah shut it.” Zack said.
“Well let’s get moving you two. I swear all you guys are slow.” Lorena said.
“Yeah yeah yeah Links. So Zack who was that guy talking about anyways.”
“Oh I’m sure you know him as the psychotic samurai bartender.” He said as we got in the elevator.
“Moreau!” Lorena said in shock.
“Yep Moreau. All he told anyone was that he grew up somewhere in the Turine system and that he went from farmer to samurai to bartender so ya plus how do you think he won that fancy gun of his, in a game of sing-gular with some bounty hunters.”
“Wow didn’t know that I just thought he was crazy.” I said.
“Oh don’t get me wrong I’m sure he is but I will tell you this. Never under any circumstance piss him off and if he reaches for his belt or underneath the counter freeze.”
“Why is that?” said Lorena.
“Oh don’t worry you’ll see soon enough maybe today he is going to be busy before he can play.”
As soon as Zack finished his sentence the door opened from the elevator and we headed to the lounge. When we got there the couches and chairs had been replaced with hover tables. They were basically tables with no legs so there height could be adjusted to if you were standing or not. When we got in Moreau was swapped with customers but before we could go any further Zack stopped us.
“Hey look at that guy at the left side of the bar.” He was pointing to a guy that looked new and had just taken a drink that Moreau had just made and put off to the side.
“Oh man he is screwed just wait for it.”
The guy took the drink and went and sat down at one of the tables. And almost instantly Moreau flung himself over the bar there was a flash of a long metal something the table the guy was at was split in half and all of the sudden out of nowhere Moreau was standing there. He was holding a samurai sword right beneath the guy who had stolen the drinks groin area which would really hurt if Moreau moved any further up.
“Now are you going to give me my drink back or not.” The guy just sat there completely terrified and Moreau just took the drink out of his hands and went back to the bar.
“Nice to know you haven’t lost your edge Moreau.” Zack said clapping as we all walked over to the bar.
“Ah my favorite lady and Insomniacs. Links did you like that drink I gave you last time.?”
“Actually yes I did.” She replied.
“Ok one Neon Strawberry coming up, and Wires what about you?”
“Talerian sunset please. And while your doing that I’ll go set up the Sing-gular table.”
“Sure thing. Here you are Links.” He said as he handed her the drink and she went over to get a seat to watch the game.
“And David I heard you two got into V-Squad good job.”
“News sure does travel fast on this boat doesn’t it.”
“Well when a person gets into V-Squad it’s a big deal especially a girl there was only one other girl that was offered a position and she turned it down.”
“Who?”
“Actually that’s a story I think Wires over there should tell you here have this.” He handed me a glass that was tall and the liquid was clear then he poured something in the top and I went through the middle of the drink and started glowing.
“Wow that’s cool. What is it?”
“I call it a Fire glass cocktail looks like your drinking liquid fire. Hey could you carry Zacks drink over I have to go get a deck of cards.” He said handing me his drink it was a short glass about 5 inches high with a clear liquid in it. And I know now from what I’ve seen if Moreau gives you a drink that’s clear it’s going to do something cool.
“Sure thing.”
“Thanks tell Zack I’ll be there in a sec ok.”
As I walked over I saw that Zack if I didn’t know better was flirting with Lorena ah whatever Zack just seems like the friendly type.
“Zack here’s your drink.”
“Cool thanks ah I see Moreau made you a Fire glass cocktail nice have you tried it yet.”
“No what does this do I mean Moreau has a knack for making drinks that are clear and have something special about them.”
Zack just started laughing. “You bet.”
“Well here goes nothing.” I took a drink and from the name I thought it would be hot but it was ice cold and tasted like cinnamon.
“Yeah it’s a Fire glass cocktail all right. Here watch this.” He took one of his dog tags out and tapped the side of the glass of his drink. It started making a ringing sound and the drink quickly changed orange like the color just leaked out of the center.
“Now that is cool.”
“Yeah I sure can do good.” Moreau said. “Ready to get beat at Sing-gular again Wires?”
“Not this time buddy. Ok five cycles and a four card hand.” Zack said.
“Sure thing lets go.”
How to play Sing-gular
Sing-gular was a very complicated game in which each person starts out with 10 cards. They then put 6 cards down on the field. There are 4 parts of the field each player has a planet which is the area closest to them where they can only have six cards max. The next was space which was the area in between the two players’ planets. The next was the left of the dealer which was called the junkyard and that is where destroyed cards go. To the right of the dealer was the deck where the players draw cards. The cards can attack each other by moving into space. If the defending person wants to protest against the destruction of a card they may. At this point each player chooses at random a card from the opponents hand and takes it out whoever is holding the higher card wins.
If attacking and win a protest defending card is destroyed.
If attacking card loses protest turn sideways and cannot attack for 3 turns it also cannot be protested against destruction.
If defending card wins protest it is not destroyed.
If defending card loses protest the card is destroyed.
If you want to attack card that is higher than yours you must discard a card to the junk yard. At all times a player must have 4 cards in there hand therefore you draw at the begging and end of your turn. Cards can be put in pairs to be of better use. Such as if your opponent has a Ace on the field and you have a three and you draw another three your pair of threes defeats the Ace. Twos are a ballistic Wild card therefore it can be any card you want. You only have two actions per turn actions include attacking and retreating cards from space to your planet or cards from your planet to your hand. And you may not have more than four cards in your hand and you may not retreat cards from space into your hand. If you want a card from the junkyard you discard one card off to the side while your opponents flips over the junkyard and shuffles then fans out the junkyard you then pick a card at random then out the junkyard back in its place and put the card you discarded on top. Jokers are most likely the most valuable card in the game. They are black hole bombs and destroy everything in space. You may retreat one card set of cards (weather it be a pair or the other sets that will be explained soon) to your planet where they won’t be affected and you may use a joker to wipe everything else in space out. Using a joker counts as a attack. The other sets of cards you may have are a five card straight and a full house. A straight is lower than a full house. These cards attacks cannot be protested unless they are attacking another full house or straight. They can be attacked by other full houses or straights or by two pairs ex: a pair of 8’s and a pair of 6’s but if you use the two pairs you must discard like you would for any other time you attack something higher. Full houses and straights may also attack your opponents hand directly where you choose a random card from your opponents hand and discard it these attacks cannot be protested. Once the draw deck runs out of cards you take the junkyard and shuffle it and it becomes the new draw deck. The deck can only be cycled through three times or however many times is stated at the begging of the game. At the end of the third cycle the deck remains the junkyard and no more cards are drawn at this point the games usually ends. The game is rarely won before this but can be done by a good player. To win the game you must eliminate all your opponents card in space. On his planet and in his hand. Once that has happened you have won the game. This game in theory can be player by 100 people but for every two people you need one deck. In case of attacks that are stalemates such as a 8 attacking an 8 you go by suit order which is from lowest to highest. Spades, clubs, hearts diamonds. To decide who goes first play a game of rock paper scissors.
I hope you enjoy this game and it is played with any regular deck.

“Dam it Moreau you beat me again.” Zack said.
“Yes yes what were we playing by 20 credits for how ever many cards I had left.”
“Yes we were. And you got 9 left so here take your 180 credits.”
“Thank you. Well its time to go everyone we all have shore leave tomorrow.”
“Thanks for letting us watch the game.” I said to Zack
“You’re welcome I got to go see ya.” He shook my hand and gave Lorena a hug good night.
“Well we better get to bed to we had a long day didn’t we David?”
“We sure did.”

[aeonic]

haha pretty darn good man

[Locke]

thank you

[JediKaren]

It is good, but a bit more emotion. Add more emotional reaction to the story. A bit more into the person's thoughts would be nice.

[psidan]

...
What have you done Jedikaren?
Now I must write a story.

Hmm. Sounds good so far. Still thinking on what to put in mine.

[Locke]

Chapter 3

Well this had been an interesting couple of days, now that we were in Valentine Squadron we had a lot more respect all over the ship. People that were higher rank than us were saluting us, kinda cool. Well Wires said that we can now customize our ships so I put on my serial number VS-T01X36-MK6 and supposedly everyone has names for there ships so I just sat there for a while thinking what to call it, Lorena already choose hers. Anyways I had put a cool paint job on it all metallic black with blue flames coming off the wings. As I was finishing up Wires and Moreau walked into the bay.
I turned around and wiped the grease off my hands. “Hey guys what’s up”
“Not much just got tickets to a concert down on Ambrosia.” Said Moreau.
“Really who are you guys seeing.” Said Lorena.
“No one just Black Nebula.” Said Wires waving the tickets.
“That is solar as hell. They are one of the best rock bands around.”
“Yep so you guys better get cleaned up because we got tickets for you guys too were planet side in 3 hours.” Said Moreau. Lorena and I just looked at each other and gave Zack and Moreau hugs and rushed off to our room to get changed.
“I can’t believe they did that for us.” I said.
“I know I can’t believe they got tickets though, Black Nebula concerts are usually sold out.” Lorena said.
“I know then again it is Moreau who knows the kinda connections he has ya know.”
“Ya you got a point.”
We ran in and got changed, and as we were about to run out there was nock at the door. When we opened it there were all these guys wearing coats and jackets with flight suits underneath.
They all screamed in unison. “CONGRADULATIONS!”
We just stood there and when we saw Maxton step forward from out of the crowd we knew at once that these were the other members of Valentine Squadron.
“Hey David, Links these are your wing mates.” He said.
“Hey guys.” Lorena said. They all started saying hi back. And two of them stepped forward with boxes.
“We have a little tradition in V-Squad you see we give all new members a coat or jacket with the V-Squad crest on it.” The guy said.
They handed us the boxes and Lorena opened hers and inside was a nice red coat. She put it on, it looked great. I opened mine and inside was a black leather duster that went to my ankles and inside like they said was the V-Squad crest.
“Thanks guys.” I said, “But if you guys don’t mind we have to go to a Black Nebula concert.”
A Korean guy stepped forward, “In that case by all means go and one more thing.” He tossed us both side arms. “If anyone questions you about the guns just show them the crest.”
“Cool thanks. See ya guys tomorrow.” Lorena said.
“Bye.” They all said as we ran for the elevator.
“Well that was nice of them. Wasn’t it David.” Lorena said.
“Yeah it was Links, these are some cool jackets anyways you wanna take our ships.”
“Are you kidding, of course.”
As we walked out we saw Moreau and Zack prepping our ships. They both had on civilian cloths Moreau without his usual bartender outfit and Zack without his jumpsuit. Moreau had on a long sleeve shirt with a Black Nebula T-shirt on top of it and black pants. Zack had a weird shirt open button shirt with flowers.
“Hey Zack what’s up with the shirt?” I said.
“Oh it’s an old earth style it’s called Hawaiian. Isn’t it solar.”
“Yeah I guess so. Oh and how are you and Moreau getting planet side Lorena and I are taking our ships.” I said.
“Oh we thought we could just sit in the cockpit with you guys there’s room.” Wires said
“Oh ok I guess so.” David said.
As soon as I said that Lorena grabbed Zack a started walking to her ship with him.
“Hey David what’s up with those two?” Moreau said.
“You know what I’m not sure. Ah whatever we will figure it out eventually lets go.”
“Yeah and oh David.” He said as we stepping into my ship.
“Yeah.”
“How about a game of Sing-gular later.”
“Not on your life.” I said as I put on the helmet and flew out of the hanger bay. As we exited we saw our ship was already undergoing repairs and modifications with some pretty big guns so we started thinking something has to be going on. But we don’t think that for long we are going to one of the hardest concerts to get into in the entire galaxy. The trip to hit the atmosphere wasn’t that long and very soon after we were contacted by the local air traffic control.
“Cobra Mk-6 7 and 8 were are you headed?”
“We are headed to the Black Nebula concert request landing pad.” I say.
“Request granted you guys are lucky we have a few pads in the dry-docks. Transmitting directions to your nav comps now.” I saw the directions and clearance data pop up on my screen.
“Thanks.” I said.
“Welcome to Ambrosia. Good flying” said the controller.
We landed on the pad and as I was shutting the ship down I realized that we still had 4 hours till the pre-concert so I turned and looked at Moreau.
“Hey Moreau do you know anything fun to do here we got a while before we have to be at the concert.”
“I know a couple good bars.” He says with a big grin.
“Yeah never mind stupid question.” Yeah stupid its Moreau of course he would only know every bar and club on every planet in this sector of the galaxy. As we got out of the ship we saw Zack and Links walking over and I swear for a second I saw them holding hands. I shake my head you’re just seeing things I thought.
“Hey Zack you know any where good to go while we are waiting for the show to start?”
“Actually yeah I know this really good sports/gambling bar maybe Moreau can win us some money off a game of Sing-gular or two.”
“What is up with you two and bars. Ok whatever lets go.” I said.
“Sounds good.” Says Lorena.
A we start walking down the ship docks Moreau and Lorena start talking and as we walk past this really beat up looking Thrasher class cargo ship, I see Zack stop in his tracks and look at the ship. As Moreau and Lorena stop and look at it a girl walks out from behind a wing and looks down at us. She just looks from me to Zack to Lorena and stops on Moreau.
“YOU!!” she points to Moreau.
“Oh darn.” Moreau says turns around and starts running. The girl bolts past us and chases after him.
“Wires, what the hell was that about?” Asks Lorena.
“I don’t know Links.”
“Wires?” says a voice from behind the ship. We turn and look and it is a Asian girl that looks about the same age as me.
“Oh my god it is you.” She says as she runs up to Zack and gives him a big hug. She stands back and looks at him.
“Nice hair, I remember it being brown.”
“Oh my gosh Margret I thought you died in that Uniden attack a year ago when I saw that a old thrasher class was blown up and found with some *questionable cargo* I swear it was you.” Says Zack.
“Nope still alive and kicking but the old crew are dead.” She says.
“What oh man that sucks. Every one even Jacker.” He said.
“Yeah. I know he was a crafty son of a gun but yeah the ship got hit and I barely survived.
“Wow that’s to bad I would have come to the funeral. Oh sorry guys.” He turns around and looks at us. “This is my old captain Margret when I used to work with her back before I was in the NRN, one of the best pilots I ever met she is the only person to ever turn down an invitation to join V-Squad.”
“Oh yeah Moreau was telling us about that.” Lorena says.
“Ok well.” Zack turns back to Margret. “This is David and Links the two newest members of Valentine Squad.”
“Nice to meet you guys.” She says shaking our hands. “Did you see where my friend went she was around here.”
“Yeah she just took off after a friend of ours.”
“Oh great I can never keep Ariel in check. Come on inside she’ll bring him back eventually.”
“Ok.” Said Lorena.
“It’s great to see you again Margret.”
“It’s great to see you again to Zack.” She said.
We went inside the ship threw the rear cargo hatchway. The cargo bay was fairly large. There are crates tied down and a hover-bike towing over cargo carrier. We went up some stairs were there was a med bay at the rear and then the corridor for the crew cabins. Which from what Margret said were only occupied by her and that other person. We went up one more level and hit the engine room in the middle. The rear was the dining and living area. And then to the front, where the cockpit is. There was a pilot seat in the front and back a little to the left was the co-pilot seat and facing the wall opposite it was the comm. and sensor station.
“We’ll she’s a good ship.” Said Margret. “A little next to nothing Zack here couldn’t fix. You ever think about giving up the military life and coming back to the good old days.” She turns and looks at Lorena and me out of the corner of her eye. “Maybe your friends would want to come to.”
“I don’t know Margret stuff is pretty good right now but we will stay in touch and maybe if stuff goes bad with the NRN I’ll join back.”
“Cool.” Margret says.
“Excuse me Margret.” I say. She turns and looks at me. “Just out of curiosity, what is the name of the ship?”
“The ‘Shooting Star’ named after the nebula I used to fly around in as a kid.”
“So Margret how did you meet Zack?” asked Lorena.
“Wow know that is a story. What do you say Zack.” She looked at him, he just shakes his head. “Well back when I had just gotten out of school.”
Zack interrupts “What do you mean just got out of you left because you hated school.”
“Ok ok I left but anyways I was looking for work so I started with some cargo shipping companies and well they weren’t working. So I decided to join up transporting ‘delicate’ cargo for Labtec Corp. I had good pay good benefits and never questioned what any of my cargo was. But this one time one of the crates started knocking when I was in mid flight. When I went to check it out I heard a voice inside. So I opened it and there was Zack. He was all tied up but managed to get one hand free. I untied him and helped him out. He told me that he was one of a select group of people with certain skills his being a natural and almost connected ability to fix things and that Labtec wanted to experiment on these people see why they were naturally good at there skills.. So I took him to the nearest base but when we got there the authorities we already after me for ‘stealing’ private goods. So Zack and I ran, as we were running we snuck onto a ship that had been listed as being in dock for 2 months and whoever owned it had never came back so we snuck on. We tried starting it but something was wrong. Almost immediately Zack here started messing around with a whole bunch of stuff mainly wires. He then crawled out from under the panel and looked at me and said. “Go for it” And at the same moment the feds tried getting on the ship we busted the ship latches and got out of there. And from there we purchased the ship from the owner privately. And from there we did cargo runs and a little bit of illegal stuff. And well ya we’ve known each other for like 4 years.”
“Wow so like through thick and thin.” I said.
“Pretty much now that is a story.” Wires said.
“Hey Margret who was that girl that chased after our friend Moreau?” I said.
“Oh that is…” Margret started.
“Ariel thank you very much.” Said the girl who ran off after Moreau. She was dragging him by the shirt.
“Ariel I sware I didn’t leave you for that other girl I had business to deal with.” Moreau was saying.
“Can it bar female dog.” Ariel said.
“Would someone like to explain to me what is going on here?” I asked.
“This is Ariel she and I kinda went out for a while. Back when I was bartending on Sidewinder in one of the Centurie systems.” Moreau said.
“Kinda going out with me you slept with me, darn you were living with me for a while.” Ariel screamed.
“Ok so we were going out.”
“Ok we had just had our 1 year anniversary and I wake up and he’s gone there was a note saying he had to leave on business. But when I went to the bar he was working at someone said that they saw him leave to the spaceport with some girl.”
“Moreau dude. I don’t even know what to say.” Said Zack.
“Whatever are we going to this concert or not.” Said Lorena.
“Yeah we should get going it was great seeing you again Margret.” Zack said.
“You to Wires.” They hugged, “And remember if you and your friends here ever get sick of the whole military deal you can always come and work on the ‘Shooting Star” ok and what concert?”
“Black Nebula.” Said Moreau then Ariel hit him for some reason, “Hey!” she just smiled.
“Cool” said Margret, “Hope you guys have a good time keep in touch.”
We left the “Shooting Star” and started heading to the local concert stadium, concerts were common enough on Ambrosia that they have a stadium just for them.
“Well they were sure nice weren’t they?” I said.
“Yeah Margret is great wonder when we’ll see her again.” Zack said.
“I’m not really sure I have a feeling that it will be very soon though.” I said.
“Yeah I guess”
“I hope not.” Muttered Moreau and as he said that we all started laughing as we walked into probably the most solar concert this year. All I can say is man this has been an interesting couple of weeks in the New Republic Navy. And man its not over yet.

[Locke]

Guys there is a new chapter up check it out

[JediKaren]

nice, but more emotional reactions to people, places, action. More detail. Add more color, more texture, shapes, sizes, more background.