2203 A.D. Earth Measurement
Starship Nebulus
Somewhere along the Terran Space Front
Captain Jake Hilyard calmly jogs through the massive spaceship's yawning corridors. The Captain's form-fitting running suit makes a soft swishing sound as his toned legs brush lightly against one another. Jake traverses the metal hallways with faster than normal human speed. Thanks, in part, to a finely tuned genetic engineering serum. Every once in a while, he glances down at a timer on his right wrist, gauging how much faster he is than the previous day.
A group of space settlers pass on Jake's left, watching the Captain with intrigued expressions. By now, Captain Hilyard is like a blur. He pumps his arms up and down, drawing in breath--and releasing it--like a high-powered steam engine.
A loud chirp breaks through the Captain's concentration. He slows his running down only a fraction, angling his left arm to reach a round purple device on his hip.
"Captain Hilyard, here. Talk to me."
"Captain...," the voice of Second Mate Chthulu floats to Jake's ear. "We're picking up a massive fleet of ships off our port bow. They seemed to materialize almost out of nowhere. Y'vik surmises they must've dropped out of lighttravel only moments ago. We've tried to hail them but there's no response. I don't recognize the insignia on any of the vessels. Neither does anyone on the bridge. Y'vik is scanning through our databases right now. So far...Nothing. We may be encountering a whole new species. I must say though, their ships are quite impressive. What should I do, Captain? Do we continue to hail them?"
"Absolutely," Captain Hilyard exclaims, picking up the pace. "A new alien race? Can you imagine it, Second Chthulu? We may have discovered a whole new alien race? Songs will be sung about this day."
"Hahaha," Chthulu chuckles under his breath. "You and your thoughts of worship songs, Captain. I am thinking of the enormous well of knowledge they may have to offer us. Yet another spacefaring race...With what I can only assume is immense knowledge of the cosmos. Who knows how long they've been out here?"
"Very true, Chthulu. Very true. I want to know the minute you have a breakthr--," Jake begins to say.
Captain Hilyard never completes his statement. A salvo of plasma energy torpedos rockets from the front and sides of the lead alien ship. The surrounding alien fleet subsequently lets loose their own plasma salvos. Several energy torpedos strike the Nebulus; causing the ship to buck. Captain Hilyard increases his rate of travel, rather than stop running, heading for the bridge.
"What the hell is happening, Chthulu? Are they all firing on us?"
Stolen novel; please report.
"It would appear that way, Captain," Second Mate Chthulu says in a voice calmer than he has any right to be. "I've raised shields and am diverting power from all non-essential systems to keep the shields running at maximum power. I've opened a lighttravel corridor to Vetian Space to get us the hell out of here! Please...Get to the bridge as soon as you can, Captain. I hate being in charge."
"Isn't that what all Second Mates are supposed to say, Chthulu?" Jake teases.
"I'm afraid you're breaking up, Captain. I can't hear you. Initiating lighttravel sequence in ten seconds. You know the routine..."
"Yeah, yeah. I may feel a slight...." Captain Hilyard begins.
An explosion to Jake's left obliterates the Nebulus' outer hull, signalling partial failure of the spaceship's protective shields. A hole nearly ten yards across appears in the wall. Captain Hilyard grasps desperately at a nearby railing as debris, equipment, and other humanoids are thrown around in the resulting vortex. All of Jake's painstaking genetic modifications are no match for the vacuum of space. The young Captain, along with many of the ship's civilians and personnel, are ripped out of the ship's bowels. They are sent spinning and screaming into the void.
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Eight years later
2211 A.D. Earth Measurement
Nuvian Space Port 27: 1000 parsecs outside of Terran Space
Aurelia Hilyard surveys the port via her spot atop the main tower. Tucked comfortably within an enormous mountain covered in purple shrubbery, this particular space port is one of the most beautiful Aurelia has ever visited. It is also the very last port her late father visited before his untimely death. Therefore, it seemed only fitting that the Nuvians had volunteered to rebuild her esteemed father's wonderful ship. The Nuvians had loved her father; and he them.
The tragedy of that fateful day has affected everyone involved. But especially, Aurelia. With each passing moment, guilt gnaws at the young Captain's psyche--and her soul.
During the course of that particular space mission, Aurelia had elected to stay behind on Nuvian Prime, rather than journey on with the crew. She'd stayed behind to act as a nurse for the dozens of Nuvian children suffering from an unknown illness. The symptoms of the disease resembled those of a disease which had once plagued young Earth children. A disease which was later eradicated. Therefore, the Nuvian were grateful to accept any help which their humanoid allies could provide. And Aurelia had stayed behind.
The news that the Nebulus had very nearly been destroyed did not reach Nuvian Prime for several months. By then, many Nuvian children had either recovered or succumbed to their illness. A message burst received by the main hub brought the devastating news.
Aurelia still remembers the shocked expression which had exploded onto Sefwan Jhihr's face. The Nuvian commandant's elongated bulbous head had turned a deep purple, so burdened with sorrow was he at the tragic news. A multitude of Nuvian civilians in the square had brushed Aurelia with their antenna, as she walked through the crowd in a daze.
Reaching her assigned cabin, Aurelia had jumped onto the warm mattress and screamed. For hours, she'd alternated between screaming, throwing furniture, and fits of hysterical crying or laughter. No Nuvian dared disturb her. But now, the past will be made right. The killers of her father are soon to be punished.
A message, noting the location of the strange alien fleet, had reached Nuvian Prime a week before. And just in time. The Nebulus is once again ready to set sail. And boy, will she sail.
