Darkspace - Unification Wars meets Halo

[Karides]

DarkSpace

Prologue

The Fatelia

Eons ago, an ancient race once lived in between galaxies, linked together by a vast network of intergalatic trade routes. Their empire was big, spanning over more than a hundred galaxies in the universe. They came before the almighty Kalzul race. They came before the destructive Convenant. They are also known as the Forerunners.

They are the Fatelia.

Eons ago, these Fatelia also mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind traces of thier powerful technology to be found by the races to come. Using these technology, the Kalzul and the Convenants rose to become very powerful so fast, that they almost wiped the Terrans out of existence....

Why did they disappear? Nobody knows, but perhaps only an ancient slab held in the hands of the Kalzul High Council contain an answer. It referenced an entity named the "Evil Wind" and a bitter war was fought between them. Yet, the war was lost. The Fatelia Empire crumbled to ashes, within only a matter of days as whole fleets of hundreds of thousands of Destroyers, Cruisers and Dreadnaughts lay waste beneath the mysterious ships of the "Evil Wind".

In desperation, the surviving Fatelians invoked into a powerful but sacrificial magic, successfully sealing both of the races away. Only a handful of Fatelians remains, and they disappeared..........

The Convenant

Millions of years later. The Convenant came in the will of their "God" to wipe out the humans, using the knowledge of the Forerunners, and deciminated the Terran's fleets by the superiority of their plasma weapons. The Terrans were thrown into disarray, and were on the brink of extinction until one lone man managed to capture one of the Convenant's ships. From there, they experiement and came up with newer versions and models, and successfully retaliated.

The war lasted for many years, yet the Convenant had never managed to destroy Earth completely. Surrounded by 50 t.Phoenix starbases and 100 Orbital Plasma Cannons derived from Convenant technology, the Terrans managed to repel the Convenant with their new fleet, and even expand their empire, until the arrival of a new race...

The Kalzul, Viral, Maruaders,Collective, Guardians and Aspha Miners

During this time, the Aspha Miners,,Collective, Marauders and the mysterious Virals are discovered, along with the Kalzuls and Guardians at a later date. The Guardians and the Asphas are peace-loving, and did not seek for war. However, the Marauders with their bloodlust, the Virals which need hosts in order to live, and the power hungry Kalzuls were. The Collectives are hostile as well, as thier name implies. Terrans and Convenants, both alike were not spared. For more power and strength, the Terran Empire sent an ambassodor to the Aspha Miners. The Aspha considered the Alliance as a mean of sercurity against the Collective mainly and thus, an Alliance was made to defend against 5 enemy races. The Guardians prefer to be neutral, leaving the Asph-Terrans having one less enemy to worry about, but they were attacked by the Marauders and entered the war.

Thus starts the four-sided war between the Aspha-Terran Alliance, the Convenant, the Viral, and the Kalzul, while the Marauders in turn started another different war with the Guardians while raiding some of the other races' planets as well. The Collective instead, prefers to attack the Aspha Miners only.

**********
If theres confusion,

Terrans-Aspha fights Convenant, Viral, Kalzul, Marauders
Convenant fights Teran-Aspha, Viral, Marauders, Kalzul, Guardians
Guardians fights Marauders
Kalzul fights All
Marauders fights All
Viral fights All
Collective fights all but have a greater enemity to Aspha Miners

************

[Karides]

Chapter 1 - The beginning

It is 5215 A.D, and the Qua-race war is still going on. The Terrans and Aspha Miners had been holding on to their frontline long enough, destroying enemy ships that get in their way. However, how long will that last? Last month, reports had already arrived to Earth, carrying the lost of the Yutria colony. At least half of the hundred newly invented pl.Mako Frigates sent to assist the defending fleet there was destroyed, and they still could not prevent the aweful fact - Yutria was glassed, and it was no more.

The attack was made by the Kalzuls. With their k.Yang-fo Juggernaughts, they took the Terran fleet by storm, and completely overwhelmed them. The original defenders were wiped out, and the Aspha reinforcements of 20 a.Kryo starbases barely survived. Indeed, the Kalzul was the nightmare of the Terran, and it was only the other races in the Qua-race War that is preventing them from making a full-scale assualt on the Terrans. When that comes, it is doomsday.

Samuel lies on his bed in his house at Central Sector 1. Looking at the murky sky through the cloudy window, Earth seems no longer the blue planet it once was. Instead, brown and grey replaces the original blue and green and the humans have to build a large transparent dome to house the residents still willing to stay here. Of course, it is still the humans beloved homeworld and the heart of the Terran's Empire. Getting up from his bed with a sigh, he went over to his personalised laptop.

Samuel: Matrea, help me access the Darkspace Online network.

Instantly, the hologram of the family AI, Matrea appeared, hovering over the black laptop. She was a beautiful mermaid, swishing her tail as numerical coding scrolled down her body.

Matrea: Sir, you still want to win the grand prize for the network? Madam had told me not to let you get addicted on that stuff.
Samuel: Shut the crapping from my mum and get me connected now.
Matrea: Sir...
Samuel: Matrea... please...
Matrea: As you wish..

The laptop popped open and the interface was instantly that of the Online game. Samuel nodded grimly. This time, he have to win against the virtual Kalzul fleet, and clinch the grand prize offered by the developers - A full, real custom-made ship based on the superstructures of the new pl.Spirit class Destroyer, known to be very powerful, with a reward of $1,000,000. It is widely known to everyone that the plasma class ships are produced in limited amounts, being newly invented and expensive. He have to do this before another player does. However, he have a strong feeling that no one is going to accomplish it just yet. The objective of the game is to successfully destroy the Kalzul's homeworld, and to do that, they have to break past hundreds of Kalzul ships.

It was almost impossible. Billions of people all over the Empire had attacked together and simultanously, and not even a single scratch was made on the homeworld. The Kalzul had incurred losses, but the players lost far more than the Kalzuls online, and with that they lost their money converted into virtual credits to buy the ships needed. The closest Samuel ever came to was to go into orbit around the homeworld, only to be destroyed by a k.Hun-xe just as he was about to bomb the planet.

This time, he was determined to win it. Walking into the virtual shipyard, Samuel saw a group of weary captains resting from the battle that they had just lost. Without a second glance, he walked over the the counter and asked for a t.Garuda

Player1: A Destroyer? What is he thinking?
Player2: I thought he always go for the Nirvana?

Indeed, richer player could afford the higher tier ships such as the battleship, dreadnaughts and Juggernaughts while the poorer ones have to do with the lower tiers. Every time, Samuel had bought the Nirvana, but this time he changed. The others sensed that something big is going to happen.

Samuel: Get me a Maxwell warhead attached on my ship please, and convert the laser weapons to plasmatic guns. Add some wings and reinforced Titanium- A to the superstructure as well Oh, and refit it to have the best engine you have.

He held out his virtual cashcard, and its balance is instantly reduced to negative 50000$. He strode out of the room, not caring what the others are saying.

Player1: OMG, a Maxwell warhead. He IS courting doom. It can blow up a whole system!! That thing cost even more than a dreadnaught!
Player2: I don't know, but he seems to have something up his mind
Player3: Well, you never know. Something that powerful will wipe his own ass as well.

There was a sudden beep, as the game alerted him that his buddy was online as well. Samuel checked and found out that it was his best friends, Eugene and Jason. They met at the Ship Dock.

Eugene: Hey, you going to have a try on the Kalzul again? I just heard you bought a Maxwell warhead.
Jason: Heheh..
Samuel: Well, are you coming with me?

Jason gave a amused laugh.

Jason: Of course, the server had just sent message advising everyone to stay off the battlefield! If we don't go, there won't be anyone there except yourself.

Samuel: Alright then, lets go. You still using the Empreur?
Eugene: Its still intact. I don't mind. Just a $500 loss if i die. I didn't upgrade it or anything
Jason: I will be getting a p.Aries. My pocket money had just ran out.

Jason gave a can't-be-helped look and raced off to the shop. Within minutes, three ships launched off from the dock into space and to whatever Kazul, Marauder and Viral ships out there. Instantly, Samuel activated the hyperdrive of his destroyer and set course for the cluster of gas planets near the Kalzul homeworld.

Eugene: He is heading right into a group of Virals. What is he thinking?

Before he could do the same, a message came from Samuel, asking him to hit the coordinates where a group of Marauders are located in the virtual space. Shrugging, Eugene did what he was told as he saw another blinding speed of light generate by Jason's Aries near him.

*****

Samuel braced himself for impact. At the moment he came out of hyperspace, he set the evasive maneuvers. The squid-like Viral ships saw him, and quickly accelerated in order to get within range to shoot. Amazingly, he was reminded of seafood everytime he encounter them. Shrugging off this ridiculous thought, he slowly guided them towards the homeworld, evading fatal shots at the same time.

*****

Jason watched over his camera to see what Samuel is doing. Sighing, he laughed. So, that is what Samuel wants to do - To create a diversion, and this is the best time to do it when everyone is out of the way. Not that it usually happened, but he encountered rude players who destroys his allies to get to the homeworld first. But of course, he died in the end, a lone mini-sun. He signal over to Eugene and they both nodded. They are going to do the same.

*****

Within a range of 25 rdi from the homeworld,

Samuel: Server, charge plasma cannons now. Prepare to launch the Maxwell warhead.

The ship lurched suddenly as a shot from an attacking Viral ship hit, reducing his hull percentage to 89%. However, the Virals are not his concern. The Kalzul is. Within 15 rdi, they will begin their salvo against any ships within range, and those who get caught in it can go pay their respect to their ship at the graveyard, such is the fate of many a foolish newbie.

24 rdi
23..
19..
16..
15..

Samuel: Server, launch emergency thrusters and continue advance.

Another lurch, and the hull dropped to 76%. This time, beams came from the front as well as Kalzul ships began to appear from the planet. The destroyer managed to avoid the beams completely, but not the Viral ships behind. This sparked anger between the two race AIs, and they began to engage each other. Samuel smiled in satisfication as he noticed Jason and Eugene leading the Marauders head on. Yet, Eugene's t.Empreur disappeared into a puffball of fire as he could not avoid the beams in time.

Samuel received a message not soon after.

Good luck. I will miss my old Empreur.
Eugene

It is down to only him and Jason.

****

Jason watched as Eugene disappeared in a ball of fire. He sighed, and carried on evading the projectiles from both front and back. As a smaller ship, the p.Aries had an easier time dodging all of the attacks. Jason then maneuver his corvette near Samuel's destroyer and fired all his torpedoes at a k.Hun-li nearby, which is not a wise move.

****

Samuel shielded his eyes as another ball of fire erupted near his ship disrupted his course. Jason had died as well. However, it was not the time for sorrow. It was time for revenge.

Samuel: Server, bring me back on course NOW! Fire plasma cannon at the k.Hun-li.

The twin cannons fired two red-hot plasma blots towards the kalzul ship. It hit, but minimal damage is done. Signs of fire could be seen from within the ship as the ship's operation was thrown into disarray. Samuel smiled, this was all he needed. Little did he know that back at the shipyard, all online players are glued to the screen, watching his feat.

****
The players cheered. This is the first time they seen a Kalzul ship being thrown into disarray, and it pleased them to know that someone did it.

Player1: Wow... he used the Virals and Marauders as a distraction. Why didn't i think of that?
Player4: It is because the server is normally to crowded to do so, stupid.
Player1: Hey, don't say that.
Player2: I wonder if he is going to suicide into the homeworld.
Player3: He couldn't be. He will lose even if he did that.
Player1: This guy must have counted that we are too afraid to go out and made use of the Virals and Marauders as distraction. Ingenuity.

Player3: SHUT UP! He approaching the planet.
Player2: Uh, oh. There is a Yang-fo.

****

The player was wrong. There are 15 Yang-fos and 30 Hun-xes waiting for Samuel.
Samuel watched as hundred of plasma missiles head his way.

Server: Sir, estimated impact 7 seconds.
Samuel: Divert energy to charge up hyperspace drive, and be fast.
Server: Diverting. Impact time 7
Server: 6
Server: 5
Server: 4
Server: 3
Server: 2
Server: 1. Charging complete.
Samuel: LAUNCH HYPER JUMP NOW!
Server: 0.

Everything happened at once. Just as the t.Garuda faced the death of a meltdown with all the plasma missiles, it disappeared right into hyperspace and appeared on the other side of the planet. There, only two k.Hun-li guard the planet.

****

Player1: UNCANNY!!
Player2: Luck.. luck..
Player3: How come there are so little Kalzul ships?
Player2: The numbers spawned is determined by the number of players in the battlefield.
Player1: OMG. HE IS GONNA WIN.
Player2: Don't forget the Hun-li. Or maybe.. the Kalzul's secret weapon...

They all lapsed into silence. They all have heard rumours that the Kalzul had developed an exceptionally strong ship...

****

Samuel: Server, launch Maxwell warhead. Set course towards the Kalzul homeworld and reverse our direction. Advance towards the homworld with our back thrusters. Divert all our energy to the hyperjump drive and prepare to jump anytime i say so.

It was then an explosion rocked the entire ship. One of the two k.Hun-li destroyer that Samuel did not noticed had fired.

Server: We sustained an attack. Hull was breached and deck 9 to 15 was burned away. Hyperspace drive working at 50% efficiency. Hull dropped to 42%
Samuel: Continue advance, and quick.

Deep down inside, he was glad that it is only a destroyer class, and not a cruiser class. Otherwise, he would be fried meat a few seconds ago. The nuke inched closer and closer to the planet, and Samuel sustained another hit in the hull. Left with only 18% hull points, another hit will mean death. Samuel watched as the Hun-li begun to charged up another attack. He had to do something, and fast.

Samuel: Server, fire all available missile pods at this pesky fellow. Give me a firing solution directly at the moment it fires.

Samuel paused. He had just noticed something shocking - that a k.Tai-fu starbase had just spawned right beside the Hun-li. The horror of the Kalzul, the large dark red pyramid tipped ship with a inverted dome underneath had been rumoured to deciminate any whole fleet it encountered, alone. Studies had shown that it is able to fire anti-matter torpedoes, a technology that non of the races had been able to come up with. Beside the Hun-li, it makes the destroyer looks minature and less threatening, greatly. Samuel began to sweat profusely. He had to take his chances now.

Samuel: Server, launch all three of the t.Ryu-jins on deck as well. Auto-pilot them to turn in a wide arc to crash right into the side of both the Hun-li destroyers. Leave the last one for collision course to the Starbase. Change target for missiles to hit the k.Tai-fu.

****

Everyone is speechless and taken aback.

Player1: The Tai-fu..
Player2: They brought it out. I don't believe it.
Player3: Hes dead.

That seems to be the conclusion they have all arrived at. Jason and Eugene both walked into the Shipyard. They were wondering why the place is so quiet when they caught sight of the starbase on the camera screen. Their jaws dropped, and nobody bothered to pick it up.

****

As requested, hundreds of missiles swarmed out of the destroyer and went straight for the starbase twenty times larger. Two t.Ryujins also launched and flew towards the Hun-lis. They curved in a wide arc, and crashed right into the side hull of the Kalzul destroyers. At first, the magnitude caused was not noticable, until the nuke within them detonated. It was then a miracle happened. The two destroyers both swung to the side as thier course was disrupted and fired thier charged bolts of mass destruction directly at the starbase! In exactly the same moment, the missiles from Samuel's Garuda impacted upon the now damaged Tai-fu, and in the stroke of luck, perforated the hull right where the Kalzul destroyers had hit.

More than a thousand missiles hit, and more than a thousand holes are seen. Just as the Tai-fu is about to retaliate, another twin plasma bolt struck at the wound, tearing the starbase apart at its wound. The last remaining fight flew straight into the gaping hole, and exploded in nucleur fury Pieces of hull split and tore away, before the starbase exploded into a storm of red fire and enloped the near-by Hun-Li as well.

Samuel watched as his ship's hull dropped from 18% to 12% from the emp . In addition, his plasma cannons had been exhausted in the last charge, rendering his ship defenceless. Nevertheless, he smiled through beads of cold sweat. Even if he died, he is still the first person online to destroy a Kalzul ship and the legendary starbase at that.

****

Back in the Shipyard, some people cheered, while some are too speechless to say anything. This is the first time they ever seen a Kalzul ship destroyed, and now wondered at the possibility of it. Samuel had made it seem so easy...

****

[Karides]

Chapter 2: Victory and another start.

Samuel grinned as the Maxwell warhead float nearer and nearer to the homeworld. In another few seconds, it will impact and explode, disintergrating those within its blast radius.

Samuel: Server, activate hyperspace jump to the outer edges of the star system now.
Server: Initializing. Done.

A matrix enveloped the t.Garuda as it transported the ship into hyperspace. Travelling through only a few seconds, Samuel appeared at the outer edge of the system. Noticing the moon Trawell VI nearby, Samuel gave orders to hide behind the moon.

5
4
3
2
1
0

The t.Garuda managed to enter the shadow of moon just as the Maxwell warhead impacted. A large explosion ensued, blinding even Samuel hiding in the moon's shadow. Having no choice, Samuel shielded his eyes. Soon enough, the light faded, and Samuel unshielded his eyes. Nothing was left, even the moon had disappeared. Samuel checked his hull and was stunned to found out that it was left at 1% miraculously. All ship equipments had gone offline. Instantly, he received an ingame PM.

Congratulations, you have won the grand prize of $1,000,000 and the pl.Spirit Destroyer. Also, you had been awarded a insignia of Captain of the Terran Fleet. Please check your bank account for the cash reward and come to the Terran Central Shipyard on Earth on 5th May 5215 A.D to oversee the customization of your ship. Thank you for your strategy and it will be posted to be used by the Terran High Council

DarkSpace Admin

On another window, Samuel noticed another system message to all players.

Samuel had won against the Kalzul and clinched the Grand Prize as well. However, do not lose heart, for subsequent winners will get a real t.Sentoki Frigate plus $100000 as a reward. Just a reminder, his method will not work very well now.

Samuel breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally completed this game, and won home a real ship and money as well. He disconnected and closed his laptop just as his mother entered. She glared around and noticed Matrea floating on top of the laptop.

Lina: Samuel! You had been playing again! I have been telling to you to go to find a job. For goodness sake, your 20!!
Samuel: Mum, i won.
Lina: What?
Samuel: I won. I will be getting a pl.Spirit class ship and 1 million as a reward as well.
Lina: Wha?
Samuel: I said, I won.

Lina Rostal looked at her son in disbelief. Then she suddenly broke down into tears, an act which shocked Samuel.

Samuel: Why, mum?
Lina: You won, right?
Samuel: Yea..
Lina: I am happy, and sad. Maybe you will get to see your father in the Terran Navy.
Samuel: I do hope so.
Lina: I will be alone.
Samuel: Mum.. I will leave half of the million here with you, and i promise if i really get enlisted, i will come back to visit.

In his heart, he did feel excited about going into real space and fighting real enemies. After all, he have a plasma class destroyer. What more could he ask for? At least he is better equipped than most of the others in the Navy.

****
5th May, 5125 A.D
Terran Navy Central ShipYard 3.

Samuel entered the entrance to shipyard, and showed his letter to the guards. They acknowledged the proof and allowed him to enter the gravity shuttle. Once inside, Samuel was sent right into an orbital outpost platform, converted to become a Shipyard, and was awed by the vast numbers of ships available docked in launching pods in the outpost.

The lead enginneer guided him around the outpost and finally stopped at a huge plexiglass pane. Outside, Samuel could see a beautiful slender ship docked. Surprisingly, it looked more like a frigate than a destroyer.

Samuel: That is my ship?
Engineer: Yep, thats your pl.Spirit. It may look small, but it packed quite a punch. Now, your ship by default, has double hull layers of Titanium-A. It is powered by dual Seal fusion reactors, and have a Convector Matrix hyperspace drive. There are 7 weapon slots available for you to refit. 2 at each side, 1 main, 1 at the top and the last one on the bottom. 2 of the slots are already filled by Archer missiles, and the other two are by plasma guns. The main gun is now a MAC gun. It is also equipped with our standard - 3 Shiva Warheads and 3 t.Ryujin fighters. Any comments?

Samuel thought about it for a 5 full minutes. He finally replied, slowly.

Samuel: How much more can it hold?
Engineer: Oh, much more than this. This is only our standard issue ship equipments we give for the destroyer class.
Samuel: So... I will want a Chi Mk3 Energy shielding on my Spirit.
Engineer: You know your stuff boy.
Samuel: Pfft, even kids know that the new pl class have energy shieldings. Now, change the dual Seal reactors to twin Poseidon Fusion reactor. Hey, it is appilcable for 3 reactor slots. Don't try to cheat me. Change it to triple.

The engineer gave Samuel a sinister smile.

Engineer: Well, we do hope that the winner is a ignorant little brat. By the way, your destroyer ship is only eligible for one main reactor and two side reactors. So what else?
Samuel: Reinforce the ship's hull with the crystalline lattice layer I know every pl.class ships have.

The crystalline lattice, derived from Convenant technology, serve as an effective heat removal tool, being both useful in cooling the reactors and dissipating energy-based shots.

Samuel: I am fine with the Convector Matrix but refit the weapons slots. Change the Archer pods to Plasma-tipped Rapid Archer Torpedoes pods, and make the other two slots at the side Requin Mk4 plasma cannons. The main MAC gun.... change it to the Plasmate Iniquis Accelerator.

The engineer dropped his clipbook in surprise. He obviously knew the power that weapon could offer. The PIA in short, launches a high density Correndite fusion shell, capable of withstanding the high heat of plasma, enloped in a super-charged ball of plasma energy. Magnetic fields then gave the projectile a ultra-fast drilling spin which enables the core to drive deep into the hull before exploding into a mini-fusion storm. That is if the super-charged plasma did not fry the target from within first.

Engineer: Woah, we thought you won't think of that. It is one hell of an expensive weapon.
Samuel: Its to MY liking right?
Engineer: Yea, yea.
Samuel: The slot at the bottom, make it a Malium Plasma turret, and bring me an addition of 2 more t.Ryujins, fixed with Shiva warheads.

The engineer sighed.

Engineer: You have got everything a pl.Life might get, and it is only our best ship yet. So what do you want to name this?
Samuel: The Commitment .
Engineer: Nice name. It will be ready on 16 August. Come pick it up then, and serve the Terran Fleet. You may be pleased to know though, your strategy had helped us won a victory. 500 Kalzul ships destroyed with one of their system at the cost of only 1 of our best pl.Life class ship. You should see its construction cost, hell of a high. Man, its a victory all right, but they won't fall for it again.

The engineer was about to bid Samuel goodbye before he stopped again.

Engineer: Hey, wait. There is the problem of your crew. 10 people are enough to handle the ship, and only 4 are essential, the captian, the weapons section, the communication section and the navigation section, incase of AI failure. Find your own crew if you wish. About your ship AI.... we shall discuss it when you come back in August.

Samuel nodded in comprehension and exited the shipyard. He already have plans who is going to be his crew. As for the AI, if there is no choice, he could always have Matrea instead.

Another engineer came over to speak to the first one.

Engineer2: Hey, you didn't tell him that a hundred of frigates are sacrificed in that battle as well.
Engineer: Some things are better left unsaid.

****

16 August 5125 A.D
Terran Navy Central ShipYard 3

Samuel appeared with Jason, and went over the same procedures. This time, they met not the engineer, but a scientist in lab clothings. She introduced herself as Doctor Michelle before leading them into a room full of pedestrals.

Samuel: Well.. what do we see here?
Jason: Your AI, idiot!

Michelle clapped her hands, and in an instant all of the pedestrals light up as holograms of AIs filled thier place. There are sirens, dancers, centaurs, dwarves, elves and plainly humanoid AIs, and all began to flutter into life when they saw Dr Michelle. Samuel noticed an AI with the image of a girl with a sword back at the far corner of the room, her face seemly to resemble someone he had seen but not know. Instinctively, he went over to her.

Samuel: Hello.

He said, thinking he sounded very stupid. Nevertheless,

???: Hi, nice to meet you. I am Yuna. Yours?
Samuel: Uh.. Samuel..
Yuna: Hope we have a good time working together.

It was then Dr Michelle walked over.

Michelle: You got good eyesight. She is Yuna, being one of the several "smart" AIs around here. I do think that she will be a great asset to you.

She clicked a button on Yuna's pedestral and Yuna's image disappeared. A memory cube popped out which Michelle gave to Samuel. Without further ado, she lead the duo out of the room. Samuel kept thinking that the selection had been too rushed, but somehow feel that he won't regret his choice. They came back to the same place where the engineer had shown Samuel his ship. To Samuel's amazement, and Jason's as well, two people were there, a girl and a man, waiting for them. What is even more amazing is that the girl had an uncanny resemblance to Yuna.

Michelle: Let me introduce. This is Walson, and this is Sarah. Both of them will be your crew and assist you in battle, seeing that you only brought one of your friends here.

Walson looked ten years older then Samuel, and a scar on his hands proved that he was an experienced fighter. As for Sarah, she is young, at most only a year younger than Samuel, but yet her hands gave her sharp nimblity away. Samuel walked over for a handshake, and stayed gripping hands with Sarah for an exceptionally long time. It was only when she flinched restlessly that he let go.

Samuel: Sorry.
Sarah: Its ok. I will be taking charge of your Navigations. Call me Sarah.
Walson: I will take the Weapons, sonny.
Jason: That means i am left with Communications?
Walson: Hahaha, its an important job, son.

Their conversation was stopped abruptly as Dr Michelle rushed over, flustered and worried-looking. She looked as if something important had just happened. Indeed, something had.

Michelle: Sorry to burst your bubbles, Commitment. You are to prepare to take off. A band of pirate fleet had been sighted at the Eplison Erandani system and you are to join Squardon 810 to repel those forces immediately.

She added shortly, out of breath.

Michelle: Take it as your first mission.

Samuel and co. sprang into action instantly. Within minutes they were strapped to thier respective seats within the Commitment. Samuel looked around for a moment before inserting Yuna's memory cube into a slot. Yuna's hologram appeared over the controls, nurmerical coding scrolling down her body.

Yuna: Hello again. Twas our first mission right?
Samuel: Yes, Yuna. Tell me when we are ready to go.
Jason: To think that this ship looks so small. It is still quite cozy.
Yuna: Captain, engine shakedown complete. Launch off?
Samuel: Do it.

There was a loud roar as the dual Poseidon-C reactors and the main Poseidon-A reactor came to life. The ship inched forward slowly from its dock, gradually gaining speed.

Jason: Sam, incoming message from Dr Michelle on Alpha channel.
Samuel: Bring it online.

A screen of Dr Michelle appeared on the bridge as Jason clicked a button on his panel.

Michelle: Commitment, i will be your mission coordinator from now on till the day you are sent to the scrapyard. IMO, that will be difficult, give the armanant your ship is carrying. Things aside, you are to rendevous with squardon 810 at this coordinate.

Another screen was brought up on the bridge - a map of the sector and a cross marking the rendevous point.

Samuel: Roger.
Michelle: Good luck.
Samuel: Will do. Sarah, plot course for rendevous point. Yuna, prepare for hyperspace jump.

The screen closed as the connection cut off. Sarah nodded at Samuel before her hands flew over her controls. The ship shifted, its direction changing. Then, it stopped.

Yuna: Captain, hyperspace drive ready.
Samuel: Do it.

There was a blinding flash of light as the rays formed a lattice around the Commitment, enloping the ship completely. Seconds later, the light faded and the ship was nowhere to be seen.

[Karides]

Any comments about this? Because if it sucks, i am not gonna continue.