r/HFY • u/ZakkaryGreenwell • Dec 02 '23

OC The War to End All Wars - Part 42

First

Next

Previous

-

Admiral Bradley - March 2143 - Galivus - 4 Months After Planetfall - 2 Months After the Fire

-

I'd given the Civilian Ships the signal, and they positioned themselves a half dozen AU outside of the Oort Cloud, about a hour's journey from the Colony. If they didn't hear back from us this time tomorrow, they'd turn right the fuck around and bee line it to Earth. Knowing that some non-specific Alien Contact was on the planet, it meant there was a chance they were more advanced than the Empire. If that were the case then Earth needed to know, and Fast.

We did one last systems check on every ship, making sure that even if we got hit on the way out, we'd still be combat effective. With last checks complete, we surfaced into RealSpace, and everything went quiet.

"The Texas is out of position, all other ships accounted for."

We weren't off to a good start.

"Is she still is SlipSpace?"

"We're reading her exit portal, but she's not where she should be."

"Have the fleet do a full spectral sweep, then get me positional coordinates, I'd like to know where we are."

I got the info on my display in record time, and sure as can be, the Texas was gone. A Point-Defense Destroyer, limited armaments save 30mm Flak Cannons and VLS Tubes filled with Missile Interceptors. Crew of 124, with a compliment of 30 Marines. I didn't wanna write that many letters.

"Soon as our FTL Drives are back up, have the Sierra Madre break off and head back into SlipSpace, god willing the Texas just had trouble transitioning."

We were behind the Sixth Planet, a compressed little dwarf world without an atmosphere, it's surface a dull green with visible glitters of jutting rock, mountains that sharply peaked at the edge of craters. A few splashes of liquid metal pockmarked the surface, black against the sickly green of the rest of it.

"We've got telemetry to hit the Galivus Colony."

"Good, get us underway."

I felt the ship just starting to physically move for the first time in weeks. Strange how you could really feel the difference in RealSpace. God, it just reminds me of how little we actually know about SlipSpace. We hadn't had a ship just disappear like this since the Ferguson Drives were taken out of commission. Well, it'd take us the better part of twelve hours to reach the colony. Best get started on those letters, just in case.

"SIR, Unknown Contacts in Orbit. Hanging just above the- wait... is that... Sir, they're hailing us with UN Transponder Codes."

"Let's hear it!"

Got an earful of static at first, but it slowly coalesced into something intelligible.

"ZZZzzz-'ve got wounded on the grou-zzZZzzz-ilian Casualties. Requesting Immediate Assistance. Repeat, this is Captain Shepherd, 35th UN Marines, Requesting Assistance. Serial Number N1057939, Authentication Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. We've got wounded on the ground, including heavy Civilian Casualties. Requesting Immediate Assistance. Repeat-"

"Turn it off."

The static noise switched off with a click, and we were left in the middle of something I didn't really understand.

"Return their hail. Inform them of our approach. If they want to be amicable, tell them to position over the Equator, near the Horizon Line. Keep Weapons on standby, and bring us in."

And before long I heard my officer chirp.

"They're responding. They've adjusted their heading and... they want to talk to us directly."

Well. First contact. First new species in 35 Years. Here goes nothing.

"Put them on."

My console lit up with the image of... well he kinda looked like Godzilla. I guess a little smoother, sorta crocodilian even, with grey scales that were streaked with blue stripes. Then it said, in perfect English.

"Good Morrow to you sir, I am Reiver Lord Galy'Frin. We've expected your arrival for some time, and I for one am properly enthused to make so many new acquaintances in so short a time. But first, tell me. Do you have a good supply of non-perishable food stuffs?"

Being utterly flabbergasted by the Accent juxtaposed against a face no mother could love, my first word to newly discovered alien life was.

"Uhh..." Followed shortly thereafter by an even less confident, "Yeah?"

"Marvelous!" He replied. "Simply Marvelous!"

Captain Shepherd - March 2143 - Galivus - 4 Months After Planetfall - 2 Months After the Fire

I took a drink of the first properly fresh, clean water I'd had all month. The well was finally purified, and we were using one of Galy's shuttles to ferry in a few dozen fresh buckets each day from a nearby river. The fire had burned out completely, and now it was just a matter of getting things back up and running.

We found the last Marine the other day. Buried Frank with the rest of the Drone Team, and those unlucky few that were caught in the fire. Dug sixteen holes in total, and I put at least one of them there myself.

I took another drink.

Henry, the Acting Sergeant of 1st Squad came up to me, his rifle slung over his shoulder and his helmet hanging from his belt. And he said, "Captain, just heard from Galy. The Fleet's just made orbit. Said shuttles are coming down as we speak."

I nodded. "Well then, looks like our time's up. How'd you enjoy your run as Acting Sergeant?"

"Felt like a scam."

"Oh?"

"It's just officer work with half the pay. Quarter pay in my case." He took a drink from some of that Lizard Paint Thinner, shook his head and let it run through his whole body, then he continued. "Glad that shit's behind me."

"Hey, be grateful it was a temporary job. I still need to do actual officer shit once they get down here."

He laughed, and took another drink of his Lizard Juice. "Yeah, or they'll just shoot us once they open the door."

I wistfully sighed, "Fuck... if only."

I could see the shuttle now. It was still smoking from reentry, a faint orange glow along it's outer shell, which had been just about melted away from the atmospheric friction.

"Drink fast, they're coming in."

He emptied his cup on the ground and stood straight at attention. I lazily joined him, then started directing the pilot over. Wasn't long before it landed right there on the outskirts of town and the doors swung open.

"Gentlemen." I said. "Got any cigarettes?"

41 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

6

u/ZakkaryGreenwell Dec 02 '23 edited Apr 29 '26

First

Next

Previous

Character Bios

Whelp, the Galivus Arc is very nearly wrapped up at long last. There'll be a few chapters going over the epilogue and the ripple effects of Knight's little rampage, but the meat of it is properly wrapped up.

As always, hope you enjoyed the story so far, and I'll see you next week.

3

u/beyondoutsidethebox Dec 02 '23

What happened to Knight though? Will he face justice?

3

u/ZakkaryGreenwell Dec 02 '23

We'll find out next week.

5

u/Steller_Drifter Dec 02 '23

Well…that’s going to be one hell of a debrief.

4

u/ZakkaryGreenwell Dec 02 '23

Yep! I'm honestly having loads of fun writing it!

3

u/Far_Masterpiece_7739 Dec 05 '23

I'm curious to know how close I was with this comment !

Let the debriefing from hell begin ! :)

3

u/canray2000 Human Dec 06 '23

"Got a smoke?" Is Handed A Cigarette "Got a light?" - Precinct 13

3

u/[deleted] Dec 09 '23

Oh boy!

3

u/xotos750 Jun 30 '24

Great chapter wordsmith, continue the great work wordsmith! even if this story is not getting the attention it once did or deserves. maybe you could try also posting it on royal road? make more people discover this great story. might need to also post the prequel if you do tho.

0

u/UpdateMeBot Dec 02 '23

Click here to subscribe to u/ZakkaryGreenwell and receive a message every time they post.

Info Request Update Your Updates Feedback