"Wake up call for sector three, wake up call for sector three"
The intercom called, making myself and everyone else fall out of their beds.

"I swear if they don't turn that damned thing down I'm going to have a heart attack."
Someone beside me grunted, making me chuckle.

"Maybe if you do they'll turn it down"

"You shouldn't be joking about that, Jacob. You're not as old a I am."
The same someone said.

I shrugged.
They did have a point.

"Jacob Smith, please report to the front deck."
The intercom said, making the same person jump again, getting a laugh out of all of us.

I quickly changed into my uniform and combed my hair, speed walking to where they called me out to, all while looking out into outer space and smiling.

You see, as a kid I always wanted to be a general aboard the great spaceship "The Andromeda". My dad had been a general, and so had my grandfather before him. I was going to make them proud, and I knew that today would be the day that would happen.

"Ah, Cadet Smith, glad to see you're doing well."
Commander Weleka said, smiling.

I smiled back at the man and went to shake his hand.

"You as well, commander"

He shook my hand in a brief motion, then offered me a seat, sitting down in his own.

"Sorry for calling you out this early, I just thought it would be better to tell you sooner rather than later. Now, good news or bad news first?"

I frowned. 
There wasn't supposed to be any bad news.

"Bad news."

He nodded.
"The bad news is, your fathers health has gotten worse, his heart is failing more and more each day, the doctors are saying he most likely won't make it to the end of the week."

"Ah. I see....And the good news?"

"The good news is, you're going on your first rescue mission!"
the commander said, getting up and grabbing a little confetti cannon.

I frowned again.
Not the news I was hoping for.

"Really? when?"
I asked, plastering a fake smile on my face.

"Tomorrow! Once we get all the details together we'll send you on your way! With a team, of course. You'll be going into alien territory. Thats all for now, you may leave."

I nodded and bowed quickly, then left in a hurry, one thought in my mind.

I'm going to ace this mission, become a general, and make my dad proud.