Chapter One
The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. Rev. 21:18
On the bridge of the starship Glisteren, Commander Victor Ferguson stood at the observation deck and regarded a tiny speck as it grew into a small vessel. “ Looking out the window” was a habit, a childhood remnant that had stuck with Vic throughout his career, surviving the mechanical reprogramming of the core and the numbing tribulations that any warrior of his age and rank inevitably had endured. He recognized the approaching ship as an early model Alliance transport. Commander Ferguson whirled on his crew, “Get her in,” her roared as flashes from the battle behind them were refracted in the golden cockpit glass of the transport. “Fine men are dying to buy us this moment!”
It wasn’t his job to question orders but Colonel Brevin Xant could not help wondering as he raced to the docking bay to oversee the securing of the target. What could be so important about an antique Alliance bucket that this much of the fleet would be put at risk to capture it? Even more puzzling was the way the Resurgence fought in a desperate frenzy to get to the transport first.
“She’s in colonel,” barked the docking sergeant as Xant reached the bay.
“Go,” Xant said in his secure com to Commander Ferguson.
Back on the bridge Vic tried to ignore the hairs standing on his neck as he gave his hurried orders to the fleet. “Target acquired…jump!” An explosion rocked the Glisteren and sent half the bridge crew sprawling.
“Resurgence fighter!” some one yelled from the floor. “Its blocking our jump.”
“The fleet is safely away, turn and fire,” Vic ordered calmly. In less than a second one of the Glisteren’s massive energy cannons sent the enemy ship into oblivion. Its obviously suicidal mission over. “Now jump.”
Normally every ship in the fleet would jump from a fight back to Alliance space. Nothing, however, was normal about this mission Vic thought as his starship came out of its jump directly on the other side of Jasper’s Star from the battle. It was unlikely that any Resurgence forces would expect such a maneuver, but it was definitely another odd risk his orders ask him to take. Now outnumbered literally a thousand to one even the dominant firepower of the Glisteren would not help them if detected. It was time to see what all this was about.
Vic had never before seen the look on his old friend's face as the colonel entered the bridge and saluted. “At ease Brevin,” he said becoming more uneasy with Xant’s expression. “What have we got?”
“Bring him in,” Xant said softly. A pair of guards led a boy of about eleven, clad in only a plain robe, before the commander.
“Who are you,” asked Vic in astonishment.
The boy turned to the observation window and stared at the sparkling wonder from which he came. “Jasper,” he replied. “My name is Jasper.”
On the bridge of the starship Glisteren, Commander Victor Ferguson stood at the observation deck and regarded a tiny speck as it grew into a small vessel. “ Looking out the window” was a habit, a childhood remnant that had stuck with Vic throughout his career, surviving the mechanical reprogramming of the core and the numbing tribulations that any warrior of his age and rank inevitably had endured. He recognized the approaching ship as an early model Alliance transport. Commander Ferguson whirled on his crew, “Get her in,” her roared as flashes from the battle behind them were refracted in the golden cockpit glass of the transport. “Fine men are dying to buy us this moment!”
It wasn’t his job to question orders but Colonel Brevin Xant could not help wondering as he raced to the docking bay to oversee the securing of the target. What could be so important about an antique Alliance bucket that this much of the fleet would be put at risk to capture it? Even more puzzling was the way the Resurgence fought in a desperate frenzy to get to the transport first.
“She’s in colonel,” barked the docking sergeant as Xant reached the bay.
“Go,” Xant said in his secure com to Commander Ferguson.
Back on the bridge Vic tried to ignore the hairs standing on his neck as he gave his hurried orders to the fleet. “Target acquired…jump!” An explosion rocked the Glisteren and sent half the bridge crew sprawling.
“Resurgence fighter!” some one yelled from the floor. “Its blocking our jump.”
“The fleet is safely away, turn and fire,” Vic ordered calmly. In less than a second one of the Glisteren’s massive energy cannons sent the enemy ship into oblivion. Its obviously suicidal mission over. “Now jump.”
Normally every ship in the fleet would jump from a fight back to Alliance space. Nothing, however, was normal about this mission Vic thought as his starship came out of its jump directly on the other side of Jasper’s Star from the battle. It was unlikely that any Resurgence forces would expect such a maneuver, but it was definitely another odd risk his orders ask him to take. Now outnumbered literally a thousand to one even the dominant firepower of the Glisteren would not help them if detected. It was time to see what all this was about.
Vic had never before seen the look on his old friend's face as the colonel entered the bridge and saluted. “At ease Brevin,” he said becoming more uneasy with Xant’s expression. “What have we got?”
“Bring him in,” Xant said softly. A pair of guards led a boy of about eleven, clad in only a plain robe, before the commander.
“Who are you,” asked Vic in astonishment.
The boy turned to the observation window and stared at the sparkling wonder from which he came. “Jasper,” he replied. “My name is Jasper.”
posted by Phillip at 11:35 PM
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