Log date 10073047
10:45am
I've been here for a month now. Recruit training is pretty harsh but I've finally gotten to Junior Operative, same level as Starchaser and Kiryo, though I've learned Star has been here about two years. I wonder what's holding him back?
Even four weeks in, Starchaser doesn't seem to gain any trust in me. He scoffs and looks away when I come in, and at this point it just feels ridiculous. I mean, I'm nice? I'm not overly loud or annoying, I think, and this guy acts like us living together means death. Like friendship is impossible! How stupid is that!
I was given my CODE today. On any mission, I'll be called LightRunner. This is so the Empire doesn't know our identities, if someone is captured or chipped.
I learned there's a 48h limit to the chips until the original mind is gone and the hive is fully implanted. That's not something I want to ever see or experience.
Kiryo told me his CODE! It's Ashen, apparently because of his skin being a dark grey. I'm guessing Starchaser is not my other bunkmate's real name. I wonder if I'll ever know it? Probably not.
We're going to be assigned to a squad today. This is going to be Star's third time being put in a team. I hope we're together. I'd be happy to at least know one person.
3:10pm
I'm so glad! I was put in Unit 7-08, the eighth team under the unit's general. When they called me up, they called Kiryo and Star too! We're a trio now! I'm so relieved I know them. Starchaser looks unhappy with his lot but who cares, I'm just glad it's him and not some unknown guy.
We are to report to our commanding officer after we put on our uniforms. I hurry to get mine on, gloves and all.
I run to the rendez-vous point and who do I see waiting for us?
Fucking general Lao.
"Good of you to come! It seems you've been assigned to me."
"Yeah. I guess I have."
I still have a few choice words for him I've been saving for a month, but Kiryo and Star join us before I can blow up at him.
"We meet again general." My pink friend pipes in. He doesn't seem too happy to see him either. Kiryo taps me on the back, smiling as always.
"Perfect team!"
I can't help but chuckle at his enthusiasm.
"Listen, recruits." We turn to look at Lao. "Starting now you're under my command. Your first mission" we all hold our breaths, hoping "is to scout the western side of Haven. You'll be taking NOIR-7, the ship bonded to your Pilot. Report anything unusual. Dismissed."
That's it?
As our commanding officer leaves, the three of us exchange a look of disappointment. I suppose we all wanted something more exciting than driving into nothingness looking for anything to happen.
"I guess we're off to the landing bay, huh?" I take a deep breath, my hands on my hips. "No use staying here and wasting time. It's our first mission. I s'pose blowing up the Empire is day two." I chuckle, knowing my joke is bad, but hoping it dissipates the mood. It gets a snort out of Kiryo, but Star just clicks his tongue and heads for the bay without looking back at us. What the hell is wrong with this guy?
Turns out, NOIR-7 looks a lot bigger than I remembered. I can see Seven hovering around the window, waiting for us to come in. It's like looking at a puppy, waiting for their owner to come home. I can't really understand her dedication to me, considering I crashed into her craft, almost let it fall into bad hands, and clumsily drove the ship like an inexperienced groom hurting a fragile bride.
The ramp comes down and we go in, putting our gear in small lockers and taking in the place. Out of the fear and panic, it looks a lot less empty? Oppressing? I can't really place it, but it's better.
"You're back!" Seven basically shrieks. I jump, the absolute suddenness of that yell almost had me out of my skin!
Starchaser mumbles something about idiots and moves towards the back of the craft, exploring it. He's seriously getting on my nerves. Anyway.
I go to the now familiar controls and gets my gloves and collar on. With a snap, the ship's engines come to life. I have the ramp retract and the doors close down. With that done, I slowly bring us out of the hangar. We're off.
We sail right into the emptiness of space, surrounded by millions of stars. Once you take a moment, it's hauntingly beautiful. All of those lights are suns warming up their own little solar systems. It feels like being surrounded by worlds you cannot yet touch. I could stay here forever, looking at them.
6:00pm
This is taking too long. There's literally nothing around here or the other areas we were told to scout. I suppose that being new has downsides, like boring missions with two idiots who can't help but bicker. Starchaser keeps scoffing and refusing to be friendly to me, no matter how much I try, and Kiryo is getting angry AT HIM for giving me the cold shoulder.
I've finally had enough. I turn, disconnecting from manual control, and attempt to put as much annoyance as I can in my voice.
"Will you two STOP for one minute?! I get it. Star's being an ass. But can't we just cooperate to finish this mission as early as possible!"
Kiryo seems a bit hurt by my yelling. "But-"
"Oh shut up you clown!" Star chimes in. "What tells you we can trust him? He's only taken quick review classes and he can pilot? That's clearly suspicious, and they can't just airlock him, oh no, they put him in a team! Our team! Without anyone watching him! Well I'M watching him."
I edge closer, rage making my blood pound in my ears.
"What's that supposed to mean? What tells me you're not acting strange yourself. All high and mighty, like my home isn't gone and I had no other choice but to learn to escape! What's your problem!"
He gets closer as well, our eyes locked together, both flaming with anger. He grabs my shirt's collar.
"Why you little-"
The ship suddenly shakes and alarms blare in our ears. Star's grip gets loose and I push him off, rushing to the controls.
Seven pops into existence. "You have the weapons of two ships trained on your position and they've shot at the right wing! We've sustained 7% damage thanks to our defenses! They will fire again soon!"
"Starchaser! We need someone on weapons! Ashen, take defense!"
"Who made you captain?" Star shouts back, but he does as he is told. Everyone gets in position, awaiting either orders or another strike. I grab the combat controls, manual levers that respond faster than the usual virtual ones, and pull away from our previous course, heading in the opposite direction of Haven.
Bang! We're hit a second time, the alarms now mixing loudly with the noise of metal being ripped apart.
"The right wing is hit! We've suffered actual damage to the hull but no punctures!" yells my orange friend.
I groan, gritting my teeth, but in desperation, I get an idea.
"Everyone! I'm gonna Bounce us!"
"WHAT?!" Star interjects. "You can't do that we'll be lost!"
"There's a planet on the star map literally half a light jump away! We could be safe!" I snap back.
"No! You'll kill us! Is this your plan?!"
I grind my teeth even more than before, giving me a serious headache even through the rush of adrenaline.
"Everyone just fucking hang on!"
I aim the ship towards the coordinates of a planetoid a few parsecs away. I feel the controls give a lurch as another deafening BOOM hits us from behind, and punch the light-jump button as hard as I can.
In seconds the entire scenery changes, taking us from a star filled immensity to complete darkness and a place so desolate looking it hurts to call it a 'hub of trade and mining, brimming with resources' as the screen to the left of my vision cheerfully displays. The gravity pulls us in, everything shaking so hard it's difficult to keep the levers in hand.
We hit the ground hard enough to say we crashed. The sound of it so loud I no longer feel my thoughts, just the screaming of metal and the horrendous screech of breaking electronics. I'm thrown forward into the controls, my chest cracking and my nose filling with the smell of smoke and iron, then back off the platform that held my body in place and into my battered companions. I can't feel my face and everything feels funny or in pain...
[TRANSMISSION ERROR. TRANSMISSION TERMINATED]
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