Help the people of the utopian commune
18 Sep 2021Rain Ocampo
Polevnic, Lethem Arsenal.The loud sound of the retaining clips clicking into place had not quite faded as I released the straps and rose from the pilot's seat. While the spaceship was automatically pulled into the underground hangar, I was already hurrying to the airlock.
"Finally, solid ground under my feet again."
I didn't particularly enjoy piloting a spaceship through the void and spending extended periods of time in zero gravity. But since my discharge from active duty in the Federation Fleet and joining the Utopia Commune Guard, it had unfortunately become unavoidable. When the display next to the airlock lit up and the message 'Ship secure. Ship secure. Ready to disembark' lit up, I hit the red button hard to open it. With a soft hiss, the airlock slid aside. With a light sigh, I circled the Python and checked it for visible external damage. The rescue missions to the Thargoid-attacked stations in the Cornsar system took their toll on every ship. The rest of the technical inspection would be done by the hangar crew.
As usual, the hangar bay was deserted. The smell of oil and metal hung in the air.
Grinning, I glanced over at the sign that read "No Smoking" and lit a cigarette.
"It's time for me to get off this stupid ship."
I took a deep drag from the cigarette and flicked the rest carelessly over the edge of the deck.With one last glance at the starship, I made my way toward the high-speed elevator.
As the doors slid aside with a clang, Kendra Shaw winced. The volume of the well-attended departure lounge literally burst over her....
Images flashed through her mind.
<The dust blew across the deserted landing field.
"The Federation. Are you here to take us to safety?" ...Soldiers in black uniforms face a group of ragged-looking civilians with weapons drawn....
"Stay back!" ...The discharge of a laser rifle chases over the heads of the group.... "
"Only the equipment and scientists on the list. Eliminate everyone else."
... Smoke billows from the muzzle of the pistol in Kendra's hand....
A streak of half-smeared blood graced the blonde woman's face on the ground...bodies everywhere...>
She shook her head and trembled. But the images in her mind remained.
< "Execute the relatives if the chosen ones won't come." Ice cold, the commanding officer's voice rang in Kendra's headset.
The major at her side watches in confusion. "These are civilians ..."
...Sweat trickles down the young soldier's forehead....
The dry pop of the gunshot has not yet faded as the blonde woman's body hits the landing pad floor....
... Screams everywhere... The smoke from the gun's muzzle dissipates as if in slow motion...>
The violence and destruction I had seen in the last few days probably brought back those old memories. I had seen people running over each other in naked panic on their way to the hatches of the Python cabins.
"No drugs this time. We'll do better than the Federation did back then."
One question remained, however. Why had the Thargoids AND this mysterious figure 'Salvation' appeared here, near the main worlds of the Utopia Commune, of all places?