Rule #3: Never give up

Easier said than done, the third rule of survival was, "never give up.  When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think".  It was the indomitable spirit of mankind that prevailed in harsh times.  It is what pushed him to build tools to overcome the absence of natural weapons or defenses against predators.  It is what drove him to the stars when Earth became uninhabitable.  It is what drove Quinn to place one foot in front of the other over and over, ever keeping on the eastward course.

Days had passed, silently, as he had nothing more to say to Haibiachi, his ever-present companion.  Only occasionally it would urge him onward with words of encouragement; "you're doing great, Quinn"  or "not much further, Quinn".  Once a day he would stop, set up the lean-to, and condenser, and sleep for an hour or two before continuing his journey. 

On the fourth day, with laboured breathing and a sense of failure, Quinn collapsed.  He felt relaxed in the knowledge that rest was soon to be his, even if it meant death.  The game was over.  But then Haibiachi beckoned.  "Quinn... please, do not give up.  Remember rule number three?  You are so close."

"I... I can't... I'm finished."  He panted.

"No, Quinn... you are stronger than this.  You will is not yet sapped.  Only a few more steps and you will find what you seek."  Haibiachi pleaded.

Quinn swore.  "Damn you, you really enjoy my toil, don't you?" 

"That hurts.  I do not enjoy it when you suffer.  Why would I have helped you if I enjoyed your suffering?  I could have said nothing and let you die at your ship."

Quinn forced himself back to his feet.  He teetered momentarily before setting his feet in motion again.  "You are not really talking to me."  He accused Haibiachi.  "You are a non-sentient, stellar body... it is my mind that is making it seem that the red dwarf is talking."

A long moment passed in silence, only the hot breeze whistled between rocks and buffeted his ears.  "Would you have welcome my company less if I were your own mind?"

Quinn stopped then shakily turned toward Haibiachi and laughed.  "I guess not.  Whether you're my mind or the sun, I welcome your company all the same."  He turned back to his path eastward.

When the sixth day was blending seamlessly into the seventh Quinn had found what he didn't know he was looking for.  He nearly stepped off the edge of the precipice and plummeted to his death when Haibiachi warned him.  "Thanks, Red."  He said, using the name he gave Haibiachi.  "I mean, really... thanks."  He looked out upon a vast valley.  The eye was incapable of seeing just how extensive the natural formation was.  His voice caught up in his throat with emotion.  "Oh my... this truly is a gorgeous view."  He looked down and noticed that the precipice on which he stood cast a decent shadow.  Looking along the edge Quinn found a path of ingress into the valley.  Carefully he made his way downward. 

"How did this form, it's amazing?"  When he got no reply Quinn stopped and sat down in the ample shadow, feeling a significant difference in temperature.  Catching his breath he pulled out his canteen and took a mouthful of water then swallowed.  He looked up to where Haibiachi would be and nodded.  "See ya when I get to the valley floor, Red."

Rule #2: Keep your mind busy

The second rule of frontier stellar survival, "keep your mind busy or it will busy itself in strange ways." 

Quinn barely slept in four days.  The heat of Haibiachi prevented any sustainable period of relaxation.  Outside the ship, under the tarp lean-to, was the only place that afforded the slightest respite from the sun that constantly baked the facing surface of Haibiachi c.  Inside the ship would cook Quinn alive if he tried to use it as shelter.

 He had begun talking to the sun, treating it as a loyal friend watching over him, yet angry at him at the same time.  Through dried lips, and in a crackling voice, he spoke to it while shielding his eyes as he did so.  "I appreciate your unwavering watch, but you can dip below the horizon once in a while."

"You know I can't abandon you like that.  You could walk toward the east, temperatures should be more bearable there."

Quinn looked behind, to the east then back to the sun.  "I can't, rule number one prevents me."

"Seriously?  You're going to allow a stupid rule, one that has never been known to help anyone, to stop you from getting a bit of comfort?"

Quinn shrugged.  "If rescue comes and I'm not here I may never be rescued."

"Listen to yourself, Quinn.  You won't be rescued.  Not here.  I am so far off the beaten path that it'll take decades for anyone to come close enough to pick up the weakening transponder signal."  It was true.  The transponder's lifetime was severely affected by intense heat and would last little more than a few weeks.  "How much food do you have left?"

"A few weeks, maybe a month if I ration it a bit more."

"A month.  Then how long can you last on water alone?"

He pinched a bit more than an inch of his belly.  "Weeks, I don't remember."

"So, you have a few weeks, you know rescue is out of the question and I am going to be right here the whole time.  Here's what you do.  You go to the ship, pack up all your rations, fill your bladder tote with all the water it can hold, grab the condenser and the transponder.  Then you head east, and just keep going until it starts getting cooler."

Quinn laughed.  "You gotta be kidding me.  This planet has a larger surface area than the Earth.  I'm no mathematician, but judging from the height you're at right now I'd guess a few hundred miles of walking before any appreciable temperature change would be felt.  Shit, I'll die sooner by going east than just staying here!"

"Quinn, sweetie... you're going to die anyway.  While you are slowly being cooked alive by my brilliance you're also absorbing radiation at a rate that will kill you within the week anyway.  Look, if you head east you stand a slight, and a very very slight, chance of finding better shelter from my heat or even some other way to sustain yourself."

After pondering the situation Quinn nodded.  The sun's logic was undeniable.  "You have a good point."  Stumbling he started to collect the rations, water, transponder and a backpack with the rest of the survival gear inside.  Before trudging off, he popped open a small compartment in the aft section of the ship and recorded a quick log informing whoever may find the ship where he went.


[to be continued]

Rule #1: Never Leave Your Ship

That's what it said.  It was as Clear as the nose on his ugly little primate face, the first rule of frontier stellar survival, "never leave your ship, as rescue could be at any time".  The writers of the scout manual had obviously never been to some of the worlds Quinn had been to.  Planets around systems so far out that centuries could go by without anyone chancing on the transponder signal, beeping out "mayday" and his location.  It was only after he came to did he realize the reason for the high pay to scout this system.  There were two major bodies orbiting Haibiachi, a Red Dwarf star.

Haibiachi c was the small, rocky planet on which Quinn had became an unintentional resident.  It was similar in size to Earth but its close proximity to its sun kept it tidally locked, so the same half always faced Haibiachi.  One only needed to consult Murphy's laws to discover what side Quinn landed on.

The larger and more bothersome Haibiachi b, a large gas giant five times the mass of Jupiter, had a more complex electromagnetic field than was reported.  Quinn had little time to adjust his course to avoid getting caught in the large planet's gravitational well when the powerful EM field fried the main computer of his ship.

Quinn stabbed the transmit button.  "This is Frontier Scout Delta Five Niner, completed emergency landing on the day side of Haibiachi c.  Pilot needs assistance, craft badly damaged.  Co-ordinates follows."  He hit a couple other buttons on the console and took a look at a readout.  "Good.  Computer, standby to transmit through the high energy booster."  A bleep confirmed that the computer was waiting.

He had gotten enough information on Haibiachi c to know that it had an atmosphere and barely enough oxygen to support Quinn.  But there were toxins in the air too, and in high enough percentages to pose a problem.  The temperature where he was was a balmy sixty degrees Celsius.  The forecast did not call for a break in a heat wave that had lasted for billions of years.  The heat was starting to bake the small scout ship and only minutes lay between comfort and the unforgiving blast of Haibiachi.

After grabbing a filtering mask Quinn popped the hatch.  It was like being hit with huge pillow.  Quinn was still not prepared for the heat wave that pushed him back into his seat.  After a moment and a few grunts he hauled himself out and steadied himself beside the ship.  Using the ship to brace himself against the constant wind, he worked his way around to the aft storage compartments and pressed a pair of release buttons to open a small compartment.  "This isn't so bad.  A little sun on a beautiful day, damned-well thinking of getting a tan."  A good tug pulled a long cylinder out of the compartment.

Within a few minutes the Kelvin V Signal Booster was set up on the tripod and working.  After a few more checks Quinn hit the communication button on his lapel.  "Alrighty.  Computer, keep repeating the recording."  He smiled and patted the Kelvin V.  "That's right, we three make an awesome team, guys."  Less than ten minutes on Haibiachi c and Quinn was already feeling the effects.

Sweat was pouring down his cheeks as he made his way back to the storage compartment.  Reaching in his pressed a hidden button and a larger compartment dropped open.  With practiced moves Quinn removed a two foot long rod with a magnetic base.  He slammed the magnetic base down hard on the top of his ship and automatically a solar array fanned out.  Within a few seconds the power to the water condenser came on as a low humming sound began to drone.  

Quinn wiped the sweat from his face, only to have it instantly replaced with more, and looked up toward the red sun.  After being dazed for a few moments he shook his head.  "Gotta get out of the direct sun."  He stumbled to the other side of the ship, opened a third compartment and hauled out a large bag.  Something inside clanged on the baked ground.  Desperately Quinn rushed to construct his crude lean-to, trying not to overheat at the same time.

He collapsed under the protection of the lean-to, labouring to get oxygen.  After a few seconds he ripped off the filter and gasped in a moment of satisfaction as he was able to breathe a little easier.  "A little... trace methane... never hurt anybody."  With a heavy sigh he flopped back against the bag as it was draped over a rock.  He could still feel the heat beat down on him, but it was less severe.  The air was still so hot breathing became a problem again, so Quinn put his filter back on; at least it cooled the air a little.

In time he fell asleep, the little work he did still being too much in the blasting temperatures of Haibiachi.

[to be continued]

Escalation of Hostility Part 4

When the Phaelen High Command lost contact with Haelix III the initial reaction was mild curiosity. So, they waited for a time for communication to re-establish.

When it didn't, a fleet was sent to investigate. The system was wiped out and it became clear that the communications network was destroyed first. From the evidence no ship, military, commercial or civilian made it out of Haelix III. The planetesimal showed no life signs and was so badly damaged that it would be far too unstable to recolonize. It did not take long to determine that it was human weapons that were used.  With wrath on their minds, they assembled the largest invasion fleet in the history of both races.

When they attacked the nearest human system, Dreus, it was as if they were expected.  A volley of missiles were fired the moment the first Phaelen ship arrived. 

When the rest of the invasion fleet left phased space, the two fleets wasted no time. 

The four Phaelen capital ships launched the first barrage, a wall of plasma charges that slammed into the ships at the forefront of the human defense fleet.  Damaging many but destroying none.

With organized ferocity the Arn Consortium Forces responded in kind, laying a steady stream of missiles at the four capital ships.  The humans kept their only capital ship out of the central mass of their fleet, as if protecting it.

Noticing the maneuver two Phaelen capitals moved in to engage it, firing plasma charges as they approached.

Suddenly the Arn capital ship, along with a few of the bigger vessels fired a new weapon the Phaelen had never before seen.  A gravity wave weapon that focused massive waves of gravitons toward the enemy vessels, bypassing shields and causing damage directly to their main structures.

Before the two Phaelen capitals were able to retreat back they were hit with another wave of gravitons, heavily damaging many systems on each ship.

As if sensing victory the Arn fleet moved in unison to destroy the heavily damaged capitals, firing one more wave of the new weapon.

But little damage was inflicted, as the ships had already moved too far away, their retreat too well covered by the Phaelen mid-sized warships.

Quite unpredictably, the Arn fleet turned about and headed for a phase jump location.  It appeared that the battle was intended to be brief, to both test the graviton weapon and to cause heavy damage. 

When the Phaelen fleet scanned Dreus II they found no humanoid life on it.  Sure, it was bombarded, reducing its usability by humans later, but it was clear that the population was evacuated long before the battle took place.

[To be continued in part 5]

Escalation of Hostility Part 3

Retaliation was to be as swift and as merciless as the Phaelen demonstrated... and a little more.  If the Phaelen felt that killing millions of civilians was justified to secure the release of just one Phaelen agent then surely the killing of billions of Phaelen was just as appropriate in turn. 

The Arn Consortium's First Fleet assembled at a system known as Jaka, a strategic position purchase a year previously in blood.  Back then it was first contact with the Phaelen and could have been thought of a foreshadow of things to come.  Radio silence was maintained, the fleet knew exactly what the mission was and would not break that silence until it returned to Arn space. 

The phase jump was initiated, the vortices grew to maximum size and one-by-one the fleet entered phased space.

Inside phased space the "Republik", a massive capital ship armed with state-of-the-art bombardment weapons, led the charge into the target world... Haelix III.  Haelix III was located in a densely populated region of Phaelen space.  Little more than a planetesimal it was still home to four billion souls, it's interior honeycombed throughout with passages, living quarters, industrial areas, etc.

The Republik arrived, scanned the system and confirmed the defenses were minimal.  The Phaelen did not expect the Arn Consortium to be so bold as to launch a massive attack on one of their core worlds.  Perhaps the Phaelen also underestimated the range of the human phase jump technology.  Either way the opposition was minimal, a mere two small vessels patrolled.

When the rest of the First Fleet arrived locations of the defense ships were instantly transmitted to them and...

... without delay the attack began.

Not a single shot managed to leave the Phaelen vessels. 

The First Fleet remained nearby while the Republik closed in on the primary target.

A beacon was dropped before the attack on Haelix III itself began.  There was a prerecorded message to what ever Phaelen would find it.  "In the light of the Haelian sun let all bear witness to the vengeance to be exacted this day in the names of all those who perished at the hands of Phaelen attack on Landau.  It was an act that could only be considered cowardly and without honour.  The Arn Consortium considers that single act as an official declaration of war." 

The beacon began to record the moment the first three nuclear charges neared the planetesimal...

... and exploded on impact. 

Each volley launched impacted Haelix III, killing hundreds of millions.  No mercy was requested by them and none would be given.

As the last explosion dissipated the scans read no life signs on Haelix III, a now dead world.

With the mission complete the Republik set course back to the fleet.  The Phaelen first fleet was on its way and in minutes would arrive.

The mission and the message would not be served well if the First Fleet was lost in the process of delivering justice.

With that in mind the phase jumps were initiated...

... and the Haelix system was left to the ghosts of four billion.


[to be continued in part 4]

Escalation of Hostility Part 2

The Phaelen Imperial Senate had deliberated over what was to be done.  They knew their agent was captured by the humans and they knew the humans were hostile.  On the one hand they didn't want an interplanetary issue to escalate, but it was also deemed absolutely necessary to make it clear to the humans that such actions against the Phaelen people was an affront that could not be ignored.  A heavy hand needed to be dealt to them.

It was thus with a heavy sense of duty to their own kind and to the interests of future generations of Phaelen that they do not appear weak.  The Second Imperial Fleet was dispatched.  The mission was to secure the release of their agent at all cost.  Backing down for any reason was not an option.

Intended as a show of force, and the measures the Phaelen were ready to take to ensure that their interests were deemed of high importance, the fleet consisted of two Capital ships with fifteen midsized vessels.  Scans were made of the entire system to determine unit strengths, weaknesses in defenses and the population of Landau itself.  Vessels and units, military or otherwise were logged into the targeting computer.  No detail was left to chance.  If a fight was what they would have then they intended to exact bloody retribution for the attempt.  After all, it was the Phaelen way.

As before the communications computer came to life with the initial, and expected, warning from the commander of the human defense fleet - a mere hand full of midsized vessels.  "This is Captain Nogutu of the of the Arn Consortium.  I don't recall ordering pizza, let alone the entire Phaelen Second Fleet.  I do suggest turning your ugly faces around and head back the way you came.  Otherwise, I'll have to punch a few holes in your hull to make my point crystal clear."

The reply was just as demanding.  "Because designations have special meanings to your kind you may refer to me as Praetor Gaerius.  We will leave once you have returned the one of our kind you hold hostage and not before."

"You seem to be under the mistaken impression that we have a Phaelen in our custody.  We don't.  This is your last warning, leave immediately."

No return message was sent to the captain.  The last thing on his mind was a piece of bulkhead as the Phaelen flagship Vaentor and it's sister vessel Torvaek opened fire and tore through the weak shields of the human flagship and ripped the bridge open.  The rest of the Second Fleet went into action, however brief it was.

 The human vessels were cut apart in short order.  They were no match.

The last human defense frigate turned and tried to run but was peppered with high velocity missiles, crippled and then destroyed.

Destroying Landau's defense fleet was not enough.  In true Phaelen fashion the main trade depot was also brought under attack.

Praetor Gaerius opened a channel to Landau.  "This is our first warning.  Turn over the hostage."

As if to punctuate the seriousness of their demands the trade station erupted, with pieces flying in all directions.

A shaky human voice came over the communications computer seconds after.  "What are you doing!?  There were innocent civilians on board that station!"

"Yes.  I believe there would have been."  The fleet had moved within the orbit of Landau and waited.

"Damn you! You spy on us, invade our space and kill our people!  I will see to it personally that your agent be executed for crimes of espionage!"

"Is that so?  I will make you a deal, as you humans are so fond of saying.  Every time my demand to return our agent to us, unharmed, is answered in a manner I don't like I destroy one of your major cities.  Now, in case your kind is too stupid to understand just how serious I am..."

A city with a population just over three million was obliterated when a pair of massive beams slammed into it.  There was a long pause.

"You're insane... there were... millions... your agent was spying.  Surely you understand that you are clearly in the wrong here!?"

"He was a cultural observer!  And I didn't like that answer..."

Another city was replaced with a huge scorch mark, a testament to the Phaelen's sincerity and lack of mercy.

"Okay!  Okay... he will be returned right away.  Please... just do not kill any more innocents."

"You have five of your minutes."

The agent had been returned with a minute to spare.  There were no delusions about the entire situation.  The Phaelen knew the humans would retaliate.  Where, when and how were yet to be determined.  The important aspect was that they made the humans aware that the Phaelen Empire was far from weak willed.

[to be continued in part 3]