Center Worlds - Spark

TGX-2 -13 BA

Four cycles, while Gya and Lyo learned everything they could about the massive battlecruiser. By the time Lyo hit Eighteen and could fully enlist, he had already achieved the rank of Corporal and would rise quickly. Gya was prepared as well, having earned enough commendations to jump right up to Sergeant, once she hit Eighteen and could become full crew.

Both of them had become very good pilots, able to fly cargo haulers, superiority fighters, and shuttles with ease. With Gya being the more attuned pilot, Lyo had developed a technique all to his own. Where he would ignite the maneuvering thrusters as the main engines lit, then spiral the ship like a rifle bullet as it launched, keeping it straight and stable for a slightly longer flight time, before he righted it on its course.

The two of them argued his style back and forth for months. Gya declared it was a waste of fuel, Lyo explaining that it applied a visual style that was worth the few seconds of extra burn that was consumed. None of the Officers were willing to step in, so the two kept bouncing back and forth without a resolution.

Gya’s skill was in precision. She could fly a ship in a precise pattern and never brush a wingtip, fly through a targeting reticule perfectly, and land on a marker, every time. She spent hours training herself to be able to handle the controls of any vessel and was preparing to begin learning how to even fly the massive TGX ships, once she was officially on the books.

However, she was still underage, so had to remain a cadet, even though every officer she was associated with had gotten her so skilled that once she hit Majority she would be flying through the ranks faster than Lyo.

She was still working maintenance when disaster struck. Lyo had been running a cargo mission, pulling supplies from a depot back to the TGX as it held station while other ships did scouting to see what Clan Michelab was up to in this zone when she realized how late it had become, and he wasn’t back yet.

“AC, has Lyo’s ship docked?” She asked as she carefully traced circuit lines on a waveguide.

"Negative, Cargo Hauler 6-B has not yet docked." Came the reply.

“Is it overdue?” She asked as she finished the trace and cleaned a silver contact, allowing better power flow through a small section of the waveguide.

"Cargo Hauler 6-B is now seven hours past due. Do you wish me to notify the bridge?"

Gya’s eyes widened as she pulled her hands out of the panel and rolled her sleeves down. “No, I’ll do it, thank you.” She hurried down the corridor to the bridge. All of her tasks had always been in the main trunk of the ship. She knew why, this was the most heavily shielded portion, so the least chance of damage, even in the heat of battle.

She walked onto the bridge, which was quietly buzzing with activity, and walked over to the Comm station. “Sylva? Where’s Cargo Hauler 6-B?” She asked.

Sergeant Cato furrowed her brow. “Docked, as far as I’m aware. Let me find out ... No, it’s not docked. Manifest, what was it hauling ... foodstuffs. Catering? Why is 6-B overdue?”

The reply came quickly “Unknown, Bridge. We were about to ask you where it was. Should have been here almost a shift ago.”

Cato looked up from her console. “Tactical, can you locate Cargo Hauler 6-B on sensors? It’s supposed to be resupplying us with foodstuffs and it’s overdue.”

“Checking transponders, Comm. 6-B is not on tactical. Let me pull records and cross-check ... Science, what do you make of that?”

At the science console, Ensign Phiste was looking at a narrow-band scan of the track of the cargo hauler that was focused on an unusual cloud. “We have debris and a neospace track. Captain, we’ve got a situation.”

“What is it, Phiste?” Captain Kalen said from his position at the command console.

“Cargo Hauler 6-B is long overdue, and sensors are detecting a cloud of what may be debris along its path. Also, neospace evidence at that location.” Kalen walked over and looked at the screen.

“Who was on that run?” he asked.

“Lance Corporal Tya, Sergeant Ayo, and Corporal Lyo, Sir,” Gya replied, making herself heard among the background buzz.

Kalen turned and looked at her, then said “Navigation, fire it up – get us close enough to do a full scan, and prepare some shuttles – we may need them.”

A few minutes later, Ryo came on the bridge. “Why are we underway, we’re not to be leaving station for another three days?”

“Cargo Hauler’s disappeared, Commander. Unusual circumstances, and close to one of the depots. I’m moving us in for a closer look. There’s evidence of a neospace plume.” Kalen replied.

“How long until we’re in deep scan range?”

“Sixteen minutes, Commander. I’ll keep you updated as to our findings.” Science reported.

Gya found herself gripping the edge of the Comm console so tightly that her hands were aching. She made herself relax and then looked up to see both the Captain and Commander watching her.

“We’ll find him, Gya.” Kalen said. “He’s one of my crew, I don’t leave anybody behind.”

She nodded, fighting back the tears that were now beginning to well.

It seemed like hours, but only a few minutes later, the science console began to chatter. “Detecting high-level organics, purified metals, molecular hydrogen, large clumps of simple organics – it doesn’t look good, Captain.”

“Launch the shuttles, do a full sweep of the area. Which depot is this from, send a team to check that as well.” Ryo ordered as the ship approached the slowly spreading cloud of debris that looked to be the remains of a cargo hauler.

“TGX-2, this is Shuttle 3. We have two bodies confirmed. One male, one female. Still checking.”

“Gya? Gya!” Cato cried and reached for her, but Gya had already slumped to the deck. Ryo and Kalen both went for her, Kalen was slightly faster. “I’ll get her to medical, Commander. You keep the search up.”

“Viktor, that is my daughter,” Ryo said.

“Ryo, I failed your wife, let me help your daughter. Find her man.” Viktor Kalen said as he lifted Gya in his arms.