First Light Chronicles Freeground by Randolph Lalonde

Author:Randolph Lalonde [Lalonde, Randolph]
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction
ISBN: 9781434847911
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2010-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

Epilogue

At 05:50 on the third day we prepared to emerge from hyperspace near the outer most settled world in the Gai-Ian system, and as Oz had promised the bridge crew had their new uniforms. They were decidedly tilted towards utility. Based on a black vacsuit, he had the new uniforms outfitted with a pocket on the left mid thigh, a low, quick draw sidearm holster on the right, and we were all given long grey jackets with built in survival gear, general purpose power cells, an extra air exchanger, and ammunition for the small pulse sidearm that came with the uniform. All the safety features the engineering staff had were included as well.

Our ranks were marked on our wrists, counting backwards, so I had seven bars going around my wrists, while the Ensign had nineteen. As it was certainly untraditional, it was also ingenious from a tactical point of view, even though the thought of being captured by some unknown enemy wasn't exactly something I liked dwelling on. Having our captors under the impression that the lowest ranked among us was the highest for a while was a great idea.

I looked to Oz as I sat in the Captain's chair. “I like the new uniforms, they'll need some refining I'm sure, but it's a good start.”

“Thank you sir.”

I brought the forward view up on the main holodisplay and leaned forward.

“How long until we're out of hyperspace?”

“Looks like we'll have to come out early sir, there's a gravity field coming up in thirty eight seconds.”

I brought up my command display and braced myself. “Bring us out now, lieutenant.”

“What is it sir?” Oz asked.

“That's not on the charts, if it's an artificial gravity generator, I want to be on the edge of it so we have options.” We came out of hyperspace and my tactical display lit up with armed ships all around us. “Condition red! Bridge and refractive shielding up, signal neutrality to all nearby ships and try to open communications with the main docking ring in orbit.”

“Gai-Ian IX station is on the communicator sir.”

“Put it on secondary display.”

The holographic form of an officer on the station appeared above the main display in the middle of the bridge. “This is Gai-Ian IX command, we don't recognize your profile and your ship's transponder is unregistered.”

“I'm Captain Valent of the First Light. Here to trade with the free worlds in 78

First Light Chronicles Freeground Randolph Lalonde www.spinwardfringe.com this system.”

“Well, Captain, we're still a free world but who knows for how long. The Vindyne Corporation has made an expansionist's claim on this world.”

“Expansionist's claim?” I asked.

“It's a legal term that entitles them to poorly utilized resources if their population and needs are growing faster than the occupants of the property,”

answered Sergeant Everin. “I scored high in Galactic law while I was in the Academy,” he said with a shrug.

The entire ship shuddered then and I looked at my command display. One of our rail cannon turrets had just detonated an approaching torpedo. I tracked it back to it's source, a Vindyne corvette class ship.

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