Heritage (Under Revision)

Chapter 49: Stella

“Today, is a monumental day for all of you here. What was meant to be a nine-month course, has been cut short, due to our great need for pilots in this new war. Of which, you brave - now airmen - have so courageously embraced in service of your planet. Our people, here on earth and on the various colonies throughout the galaxy are calling the war to end all wars. Such has been said many times before. In World War One. When our men had only trenches and the most basic of firearms to defend themselves with. Suffering and dying from disease and infection just as often as a bullet would have done the same. In World War Two, when our tiny world, still split into various nations, came almost unanimously together to bring down one of the greatest evils ever known. In the final war against each other. Our planet, withering and dying from pollution, fuel deficiency, on the brink of apocalypse, save for the one small hope of a ship, armed with every technological advancement we had at the time. To the subsequent Evolution Wars that followed. Onward and onward our unified earthling and extraterrestrial allies have pleaded for galactic peace. My mission to you fine pilots is this: help make this war the last one this galaxy will ever see for a millennium. This Sekrid race has been a blight on our beautiful galaxy long enough. It is time for the allied planets of this great establishment to stop playing games and to bring down the empirical dictatorship that has so long ruled their quadrant. Civilizations have risen and fell underneath the boot of their rule. And as a man who has given his entire life to freeing the galaxy of such tyrants, I ask you to bring down the sky on these insects. With this mission I send you off with, I congratulate all of you as pilots of the UEDF Air Corps. Celebrate today, for tomorrow you enter combat. You are all dismissed,”

As the crowd roars and cheers, tossing their caps into the air, I can hardly find the will to move from my chair. Finding out Leon had been captured only a few days ago. Then today, watching on the news as General Blake was escorted in handcuffs into a military prison for shooting a defense agent. I can’t help but wonder what is really going on out there and how everything went so wrong.

I have so many questions swimming in my head.

What’s going to happen to Leon?

Why did General Blake do what he did?

How is the Commander handling all of this?

I feel a hand wrap around my arm and pull me to my feet. It was all I could do to break out of my stupor and focus my attention on Richard holding me up and smiling.

“Hey!” He yells through the clamor

“Cheer Up! We got our wings today!”

I can’t help but allow a smile to shine through at his enthusiasm. He tends to do that a lot for me lately.

I can’t seem to shake this undeniable attraction I feel towards him. He reminds me so much of Leon yet he’s different. The battle in my head over them has become hard to keep struggling with. Especially with everything that has happened. For now, Richard is here.

Leon isn’t...

After ceremony is over, Richard and I decide to drive up to our usual spot. We take it extra slow today. It will be the last time we have a chance to see it for a very long time. After our deployment ends, we were given the choice to either return to the academy to finish, and receive advanced training or retain a post for the duration of our service.

Richard and I opted to come back here in exchange for a longer service term. After reaching the top of the hill, Richard takes his usual spot underneath the tree. I decide instead to go to the edge of the hill and stare out into the horizon. I look down on the grey stone buildings nestled within the trees and reminisce about my time here.

I’ve learned so much about so many things and tomorrow...I’m going to be tested on just how well I can apply those skills. The instructors repeated time and again that if we’re giving a hundred percent in the simulations to complete them, we need to give two hundred when up against a Sekrid pilot.

Richard finally senses my concern and walks over to me “You okay Stella?”

I turn to face him; I can’t help but let the tears start to fall from my saturated eyes. I bury my face into his chest.

“Hey now, come here,” Richard nearly peels me off of his chest and places his hands on my face.

He smiles “You don’t ever have to hide your face from me when you cry. You can trust me with all of it,” He says to me, sincerity painted on his face.

His kindness finally pushes me over the edge. Richard has had nothing but patience for me. Nothing but compassion. I can’t my feelings anymore and I finally allow myself to embrace him, holding his face in my hands and kissing him. I can feel him freeze momentarily before wrapping his arms around me and reciprocating the affection. After the kiss breaks, he releases me and I stand beside him. We both stare out in to the distance not saying a word or speaking the obvious.

We just allow ourselves to enjoy this last moment of peace there is.

________________________________________________________________________________

A large room full of pilots waits in anticipation as the commanding officer enters the room. He reaches a podium picks up a small object from it. He presses a button and a large plasma screen turns on showing a map with various lines strewn across it. Mock ups of ships are placed on the left and right sides of the map. From the looks of it, it’s a space-based map, indicated by a simple background of stars underneath the foreground elements.

“Good morning everyone. And welcome to our new pilots out of the academy. Your reinforcements are greatly appreciated. And I apologize at what I’m about to throw you into. First of all, I am Colonel Martin Townsend. For those of you who are new here, I will be your commanding officer on this Star Fleet vessel that we are occupying. Now, on to business. What you’re seeing here is a tactical strike that we will be commencing in order to free defenses for our ground troops to drop and assault planet Gokis. The strike will be a joint effort between us and our close allies the Jinkor. This planet is a major piece of property to our Jinkor brethren and capturing it will allow them to have a strong positioning to push the Sekrid out of their territory. Our fighters will be the brand-new Archangel fighter jet fresh off the lines. New people, this gives you an advantage as this is what you were trained on. Old people, we have been assured that it will only take minor adjustments in order to properly acclimate to the new fighter. Along with those, we will also be sending out bomber squadrons for localized star ship strikes. Don’t expect a whole lot of help from ours, or the Jinkor destroyers. Our friends want their planet left intact due to the natural resources and innocent lives on the surface. Fighters, your job is two-fold. You are to hang close to our bombers and provide fire support as well as stage a forward assault to knock the Sekrid off kilter. New people, when you get to your bunks you’ll find your flight suit there as well as what fighter group you’ll be in. Get suited up and down to the hangar immediately. We drop out of light speed in thirty minutes. We need everyone in their planes and ready to drop by then. You’re dismissed,”

As the Colonel finishes it’s nearly a frenzy as all of the pilots stand up and hurry out of the room. I manage to squeeze through the exit myself and make my way to my dorm. The ship feels like an even bigger maze than the Poseidon was.

When I finally find my bunk, I notice it’s much less comfortable looking than what I’m used to, consisting of a small mattress placed on a frame of the same size and a simple sheet, blanket, and pillow.

It starts to sink in at this moment I’m truly not home anymore. And that what I was initially yearning for finally arrived.

War.

I quickly unwrap my flight suit from its plastic and pick up the folded paper laying on top of it. I open it up and it reads in large yellow letters “D FLIGHT” I set down the paper and quickly change into my suit before hurrying down to the flight deck. As the elevator to the flight deck comes to a stop, the doors open to a cacophony of activity. Pilots running in all directions. Planes being moved into the direction they need to be facing.

As chaotic as it seems, once one focuses, it’s not hard to see that everyone is moving around like a well-oiled machine doing everything they need to in order to prepare for launch.

I’m pulled out of my focus by a crewman wearing a bright vest “You one of the new guys?!” he yells through the noise.

I nod my head. “Good! Come this way!”

He leads me over to an area filled with lockers that contain various flight gear. The lockers go on forever down the hangar of which there are three rows.

We walk for a few minutes before he stops suddenly, looks closer and points “This one’s yours! Get geared up and head to the plane number that’s on your helmet!”

He walks away and I open the locker. At this point I feel incredibly overwhelmed at the ensuing battle to come. My nerves get the better of me and I can feel my face flush and my head start to spin as I hyperventilate. I bend over, leaning a hand against my locker and start to breathe heavily, catching my breath.

The panic attack subsides and I regain my composure. I close my eyes and sigh deep before commencing to put on my gear. I notice that we must have been using outdated gear in the academy because what I put on is much smaller and light weight.

I pull my helmet from the locker last. I take the time to marvel at it for a moment. The oxygen mask, the glossy stone-grey sheen, the smoky black visor. This is the thing that I always loved about looking at a pilot in full uniform. I remember back to looking at Dante’s old helmet form the archives. A falcon with wings outstretched painted over the top circumference of it with a blue lightning bolt on either side. I remember it was the most awesome thing I had ever seen.

I hear a voice yell behind me “If you’re done gearing up, get to your plane now!”

I quickly turn my helmet to find my number “AR1351” it says.

I turn around and rush out on to the flight deck. I look around. There are so many planes I can’t find it initially. I squint my eyes and focus harder.

Found it.

I hurry over and approach the crewman who’s standing next to it.

“Climb on in, your wingman is already set.” I nod in acceptance and climb the ladder and then plop down into the cockpit with a small thud.

As the cockpit door closes all of noise outside ceases and I’m finally able to think again. There’s a thumping on the glass, outside the crewman gives a thumb up. I nod in acceptance and look around my instrument panel.

Upon seeing various familiar gauges and buttons I go to work pressing them in sequence. Each one powers a different part of the fighter and by the time I’m done, all that’s left is to press the thruster bar forward.

A voice then speaks behind me. “It is nice to finally make your acquaintance Airman Tempest. I hear you are very accomplished,”

The manner of speaking sounds odd to me but I try to ignore it as I respond. “Thank you. I’m sorry, but I don’t know who you are sir,”

Just then a screen turns on my panel and I see a blue with bright, large, lavender eyes staring at me.

“But at least now you have a face to my voice,” he says smiling to show teeth the color of blackened nickel.

“You...you’re a Jinkor,”

“Yes. My people had pilots to spare, so they sent them to yours as reinforcements. We need only one person to our fighters as yours need two,”

“Well, I’m glad to have you as my wingman...”

“Talall. My name is Talall,”

“Talall. It’s good to have you as my wingman Talall,”

“And you as well Airman Tempest,”

“Stella...you can call me Stella,”

“Attention all Flights, light speed will cease in thirty seconds. Drop will commence immediately after. Flight A through D are on bomber defense, E through H on forward assualt,”

My heart begins to beat faster and I feel my hands begin to shake. Talall lays a hand on my shoulder.

“Be at ease Stella, I will not let you fail,” He says.

I choke down my nervousness and focus.

“Dropping out in three, two, one,”

There’s a slight jerk as the ship comes out of light speed and without warning the ground underneath me begins to rotate, taking the plane with it. I find that I am now on the bottom of the ship, upside down. I don’t hesitate, as the locks release I slam the throttle bar forward, blasting into open space. I quickly find a place near a large delta-shaped ship, a bomber.

I slow my fighter down to keep pace.

“A word of advice Stella. The Sekrid will waste no time coming for the bombers. They will hit us fast and hard. Most fighters are destroyed first because they decide to panic and split off from the group, leaving themselves isolated. If we stay with the pack, the Sekrid will ignore us and go for the bomber first. After their first run is when we can begin to pursue. All you have to do is give me lock on and I will do the rest,”

“Sounds like a plan to me Talall,” I say punching in a few buttons to bring up a targeting display.

It’s then that I see a swarm of fighters funneling out of the star ships in the distance. They careen towards the bombers as our attacking units move to meet them. The sight is both unnerving and brilliant as both sides meet, plasma cannons firing both ways. bright greens and deep reds light up the spatial horizon as various ships on both ends explode into flames that are quickly snuffed out by the vacuum of space. A splinter breaks off of the initial Sekrid attack force and begins doing exactly what Talall has said.

They come straight for us and the bombers.

My heart pounds so hard I can hear it.

“Here they come,” I say pointing out the obvious.

“Remember, stay the course,” Talall reiterates.

They come closer and closer and I want so hard jerk the control stick out of the way. I repeat Talall’s words over in my head like a mantra, keeping me focused. The Sekrid ships just before impact veer upwards and rain fire down on the bomber I’m protecting.

“Now Stella, pursue, pursue!” Talall yells as the last Sekrid fighter passes.

I allow my instincts to take over at this point, accelerating to max and sharply turning vertical.

“1351 What are you doing?! We’re supposed to be defending the bombers?!” A voice says over the radio.

I key up my mic “This is how we defend. They’re vulnerable when going for another pass. Fall in on me and we can take them out before they have another chance!” I respond, taking control of the situation.

Hesitantly, but in sure fashion, fighters fall in behind and next to me.

“Say when Talall,”

There’s a brief silence “Now Stella. Now is the time,”

“All units, Fire!” I command as beams pulse out of my plane, ripping numerous holes into the Sekrid warplanes.

We follow the Sekrid through their loop back around and as they level out, I brake hard, rotating so that I’m directly above them. Talall opens fire as I fly directly towards the wave. I fly through a mass of multiple explosions and come out underneath the Sekrid fighter wave.

The other pilots follow suit. It’s as if we’re one large, flowing tendril of metal and energy, cutting through the large ocean that is the Sekrid forces. I notice their ships break away from attacking the bomber, doubling back and upwards from their initial heading.

Myself and the rest of our fighters instinctively retake our positions around the bomber. The Sekrid squadrons veer back down a distance away and begin to gather level with our ships. The Sekrid ships form a large cluster that seems to endlessly grow in size until it creates a large sphere. We hold our position. I notice the Sekrid ships start to vibrate and a red electrical surge begins to pulse through them like a chain. There’s a large amount of confused chatter that follows over my comms.

I can’t help but focus on what’s happening. “Talall...what is this?”

“I do not know Stella. But I do not think it is good,”

The red energy begins to move faster and faster through the Sekrid fighters and a glow forms around the ships until it is ultra-bright, resembling that of a small star. The glowing sphere then starts to pulse until all at once...it explodes sending a massive wave of energy at us.

At this point there’s nothing we can do to stop it. The energy wave collides with my squadron and subsequently, the bomber we were protecting. I don’t remember much after the collision. I remember being jettisoned in an indeterminate direction and hitting my head on the pane of my canopy so hard I hear a loud crack. After that it’s black and inertia. I wake to find myself floating steadily through the vacuum. A lightning bolt of pain races through my head and neck as I turn my face to study my surroundings. I shake the dizziness from my eyes and when my vision becomes clear, I see a mass of stardust and shrapnel wandering aimlessly through space. Where my squadron was with the bomber now lies a void of colors and glistening shards. I feel the failure creep in and I can’t help but let tears fill my eyes as I realize I’m staring at a graveyard.

“Are you...okay Stella?” Talall says.

I feel the warm streams fall down my face “I...I’m okay. Are you?”

“Of that, I am not sure,”

His statement snaps my eyes to the display on my panel, the screen cracked, but still functional. I notice a green fluid, presumably blood, flows from the corner of his mouth. His visor shields the rest of his face. “We seem to have taken on a stray piece of shrapnel. It has embedded itself in my side. The ship is still functional, but it will require removal when we return,”

“My God Talall...we have to get you back right away, you could bleed to death,”

“No, Jinkor do not retreat. Not unless we are instructed to. We must continue. It is our way Stella,”

I stare down at my legs, contemplating what to do. I turn my head to stare outside at the continuing battle. My eyes catch the sight of the shrapnel Talall was speaking of. I follow its shape down and finally realize that I had been injured by it myself. It hasn’t pierced my side but I notice that a jagged edge had torn through my side of the cockpit and sliced my side at the ribs clean.

“It seems I was hit by it too. But I don’t feel it,” I say in shock.

“That is your suit’s trauma response system. It must have sent antibiotics, painkillers, and a cauterizing agent to your wound to immediately kill pain and prevent excessive bleeding,”

Our conversation is cut short from a quick blinding flash. I snap my head in its direction of origin. My mouth drops at the site of one of our large destroyers cracking in half as a Sekrid warship continues to pummel it with large rounds from its artillery cannons.

I watch in horror as a distressed voice begins to call over the radio “All fighters, retreat to your ship! I repeat, all fighters, retreat to your ship!” it says on playback.

“Stella...it is time to go. Now,” Talall’s voice snaps me from my stupor and my only concern is getting back to the hangar so that he can receive medical attention.

I quickly restart my plane and accelerate hard towards my vessel of origin. The engine of my fighter pops and fizzes, struggling to maintain power due to the shrapnel’s damage. I see the open hangar door and my heart pounds as I pray for the engine to stay alive. It seems to have no effect as I feel my forward thrust die out and the engine ultimately following suit.

I notice however, due to the vacuum of space, my fighter continues to move forward at a slower, but steady pace. It’s at this point that the hangar doors start to close.

“Talall...the doors are closing...what do we do. They’re going to leave us here,”

There’s a silence.

“Talall? Talall?!”

I turn my attention toward the screen.

“I am here Stella...I am thinking. If I am correct...our fuel lines are cut to our engines. Which is why power went out in them gradually as opposed to not having any at all,”

“Meaning that the lines are still intact, but we have a fuel leak inside the compartment,”

“Precisely. Pe...Perhaps we could trigger the afterburner and ignite the fuel inside the compartment,”

“Which, in theory, will propel us forward. But wait...what if the fuel was able to leak into the compartment under the cockpit?”

“Incineration is a better fate than capture and torture by Sekrid,”

“You’re right,” I say without hesitation.

I press a few buttons on my panel. A message shows on my HUD. “AFTERBURNER PRIMING” It says.

I glance back and forth from my display to the hangar doors as they creep close when finally, I see “100%” on the screen.

“Ready?” I ask.

“Ready,” I take a deep breathe, preparing for either outcome.

I close my eyes and press a large blue button on my panel. With a powerful thrust forward, the afterburner fires, igniting the excess fuel in the rear compartment of the plane, blasting it to pieces but giving us a final burst of speed that allows us to make it in through the hangar doors before they close.

As we enter the hangar, the velocity becomes much more real as the artificial atmosphere takes hold of the fighter and we careen towards the hangar floor. I watch numerous personnel run and dive out of the way as we collide with the ground and slide for some solid one-hundred feet before coming to a grinding halt.

I quickly press a button on my panel that ejects the canopy off of the plane. I hear multiple people hurrying over to us and start using fire extinguishers, thick white fog surrounding the area. I ignore my pain as I jump out of the cockpit.

I quickly find a medical officer. “My wingman. He’s been injured badly. He needs immediate attention,”

The officer simply nods and runs to the plane without hesitation.

I stagger over to a bench that’s placed near the long rows of lockers and sit down. An anger starts to fill me and I tear the helmet from my head and throw it at the lockers and then hold my face in my hands as the anger fades to grief.

I feel tears fall from my eyes and through my fingers on to the floor as I sob uncontrollably. I sit up in order to catch my breath and try to gain my composure. I take a few deep breathes in and out and manage to stifle the sobs.

Once I gain full control of myself, I stare down at my helmet and finally notice the large, splintering crack on the right side of it. I stare at it shocked then reach a hand up to the same area on my head. I feel a wetness and when I pull my hand down, my fingers are painted crimson.

I then look at the floor and notice the same shade is there as well. The realization becomes too much for me at this point and I feel a darkness fall over me as I pass out fromexhaustion and blood loss.