Tag: Sci-fi

Pegasus (Part 53)

I opened the heavy door and went out into a bright, white corridor. Tabitha followed close behind. We went slowly trying to ensure that we didn’t make a noise. It felt claustrophobic, so different to the other habitats I had been on. Each room we came across was full of the same boxes and they were in a similar state of disrepair. A repugnant smell of sweat pervaded the ship sickening the intrepid .

Then they heard the sound of shouting coming from in front of them. They continued on onwards to an open door at the end of the corridor. It led them onto a balcony. We peered down at what lay below. A big, heavy-set man was speaking to a large of people. What looked like a machine gun was strewn around his neck. They could just barely make out what he was saying –

“See I told ya. But did ya believe me? Not a chance. But the proof is with us now. I told you that there was a flaw in their security. Now we have their merchandise to sell to the highest bidder. And we will.”

Just then, I thought I felt something prodding my back. So intently was I listening that I ignored it, but then I got a much larger prod that sent a dart of pain into my side.

“What?” I whispered angrily as I looked back to guns pointing at my face.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (19)

The days passed and Timothy and his troops grew to know what was a new world. Timothy was continually impressed. It had progressed beyond anything that he had expected. The only thing that bothered him was most of the progress was made after the Emperor’s grip on the planet had been loosened. This was not the way it way it should be. It was thought that the Emperor was the savior of humanity.

It was something of a shock that women were now treated on a par with men. In the latest wheelchair wars, they tried to reduce the bloodletting as much as possible. The poor’s health needs were met almost as much as those of the rich.

The Emperor’s ship had never left orbit. He sensed the nervousness of the people. They feared his return only slightly less than that of the impending Tyranid invasion. On a trip to the surface, he saw people pointing to its proximate location in the now blue sky.

He wondered if one of the Gods of Chaos was at work in the World but they were far from the Warp and the telepaths among his troops sensed nothing. A terrible truth dawned on him. They were doing better due to the Emperor’s absence.

He decided to rid his mind of such thoughts by focusing on the planet’s defense. After learning more, he was now quietly feeling more confident.

The planet had multiple lines of defense. The first was its multiple-battery orbit guns dotted around the planet. They were the best Timothy had ever seen. Almost too good. Who were they to be originally used against?

Then there was the planet’s federal army, which consisted of a land force, a navy, and a space force. The best troops in the land forces were modeled on the Space Marines and had undergone body augmentation and were fitted with the best lasers and blasters that money could buy.

The navy consisted of hundreds of battleships, aircraft carriers, and corvettes. The space force had nearly a thousand advanced fighters but no large ships.

There was also a territorial army, a large reserve force containing millions of men, albeit much more lightly armed with mostly machine guns and rocket launchers.

Finally, there were the militia. These had the poorest equipment and consisted of the young and old who were able to fight.

Now, it was a matter of finalizing exactly how the planet’s defenses would be used with the planet’s President.

Pegasus (Part 52)

“I have no idea. I’ve never seen such a shoddy ship before. How is it still even functioning?” I replied dryly.

Tabitha looked at me wide-eyed and then replied, “It must be a scavenger ship. I’ve heard about them. They bring goods of all types from one habitat to another for the lowest possible price. Many of the first-generation ships ended up getting purchased for this purpose and it was said that some of them are still out there. Scavengers have a very bad reputation for violence and I was told never to let my guard around them. There was one story about a group of rebels who asked to let them hide in their ship. The Scavengers said yes but they were not heard of or seen again. You ever hear about them?”

“No nothing. But the media and everything else were tightly controlled in my habitat so that might not mean much.”

A siren went off in the ceiling corner. We both froze. There was a scurrying sound coming from outside and instinctively we rushed behind some of the metal containers. The scurrying noise grew louder before receding away. Then the siren stopped.

I glanced at Tabitha knowingly.

“The siren is a summoning device. Come on, let’s see where they went.”

But she gripped my arm tightly.

“We have to see what’s going on. We’re not on the right ship.”

She let my arm go and nodded in agreement.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (18)

The name caught him off guard and he merely nodded in agreement. He looked around and could not see the face of his enemy. And anyway, the Tyranids had to be stopped. Surely, this would be the will of the Emperor

Their leader spoke once more.

“Perhaps you would like to rest? There has been much for you to take in.”

Timothy looked over at his loyal troops who were waiting patiently at the rear of the large cavernous chamber. His mind was made up in an instant.

“Yes, please show me and my men to our quarters. There will be enough time for war.”

“As you wish.”

Timothy thought that was the end of the surprises but he was wrong. Even the residential units were splendid with ample space, and marble floorings, and the furniture was of the finest wood. He instructed his carebot to lay him on the bed. It was made of the finest cotton. And this wasn’t an exceptional quarter. An ordinary family had lived here. They had been moved to make way for him. And each of his men had something similar.

After a few minutes, he realized there would be no offering of women and drink. How times had changed? He slowly drifted off asleep.

Pegasus (Part 51)

There was an anxious wait though before they came to a halt. I gripped Tabitha’s hand. It was sweaty. Then they waited in the silence.

A few minutes later, they heard the first rustling of sound. Then it grew louder. Amidst the sound of a girder lifting the boxes out, there was also what sounded like children talking and screeching.

The boxed crate they were in soon started to shake. They were on the move but didn’t know where. Minutes passed. This wasn’t part of the plan. They were supposed to remain in the same spot and board an adjoining ship.

They felt a large bang as they hit the floor. The machine operator obviously didn’t think there was anything valuable inside. That, or he just didn’t care. After a few moments, things fell silent once more.

It felt like the time to act.

“Come on Tabitha, it’s time to act.”

“Yes, yes let’s go.”

We pushed the top off of the metallic box. Our eyes winced closed from the light but gradually opened to reveal a cramped room full of containers and different parts of machines. The air was stale and smelled of oil.

“Where are we?”

Tabitha’s mouth opened but nothing came out. We both looked around in astonishment. Wires were hanging out everywhere – from the ceiling to the door control.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (17)

When the train stopped, they were led out into a large cavern. Timothy struggled to believe his eyes. The walls were covered in live video streams of strategic positions throughout the planet. Then in the distance after an array of desks and computers was what was the main console.

Timothy powered his wheelchair forward not quite sure if he could believe his eyes and then whispered.

“You have a planetary defense system?”

The tall, muscular man walked up alongside as the clattering of shoes against the floor, and the sound of computer keys getting pressed fell silent.

“Yes, we do. After my election..”

“Election!”

Timothy immediately activated the armaments on his wheelchair and prepared to fire. Never before had he heard such heresy. Only the Emperor or his ambassadors can appoint leaders.

“Before you fire, there are certain things you should know. Firstly, we are of the same blood. I am one of your many descendants. Secondly, we only began elections after the Emperor gave up on this world. The ambassador on this planet left once he saw the Tyranid fleet head in this direction.

This world was on the precipice of disaster but then we thought of Wheelchair Wars and that our heroes would never just give up.”

Timothy’s finger was almost on the button to fire but it never went further. The wheelchair returned to its normal state.

“My name is Timothy The Younger by the way.”

Pegasus (Part 50)

I went over and tried to help her. It was jammed closed so I gave it a thud. It clamored open. I suddenly froze and Tabitha gripped my arm tightly. My eyes frantically scanned my surroundings but nothing stirred. Tabitha slowly released her grip.

We got inside the holding bay of the spaceship. Our instructions were clear. We needed to open one of the steel containers, which was never locked. One of them would be empty. And that is what we did, although it took a few minutes to find one. We had been told that this was a ship for perishable and sensitive freight so we would only have to deal with slow acceleration and deceleration. Our destination was called Decon XXV. I knew not what to expect. So I squeezed into the container with Tabitha and pulled it closed. We held hands in the dark and waited.

After a few minutes, we could hear the roar of the engines. She gripped my hand more firmly. Then we felt the ship begin to move. After a few minutes, I began to feel sick from the motion and tried to concentrate my mind on the day’s events.

Hours passed. Then almost imperceptibly it began to decelerate.

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (16)

They led him into the heart of the city. It was clear that everything had changed utterly from when he was last there. There was a natural smile on the people’s faces, they looked radiant and full of happiness in their immaculate white robes. The floor and walls looked like marble and the entire place was well lit. It smelled of the roses that were interspersed along each corridor. And this wasn’t the upper echelons of the city. Not even close, not that that seemed to matter. There were elevators dotted around the place with people coming and going as they pleased. It was strange. The people felt free. Timothy felt an intense pride in what had been achieved.

It wasn’t long before the fingers started to point at Timothy and his entourage. First, it was just the younger ones, and the older ones looked somewhat stunned. Then the furious clapping started. The crowds grew thick. It reminded Timothy of his great victories, and yet it seemed a different world, if not a different universe.

After a few minutes, they reached an international train transportation system. An open carriage was waiting for them. It was wide and spacious. Once, they were inside the doors automatically closed. It quickly transported them into the heart of the huge city. It was swift, even faster than what it had been centuries ago.

Pegasus (Part 49)

Then the train began to slow as it entered the spaceport. I shuddered when I saw the high fence. Tabitha led the way. We had been given a map to show us which ship we had to board. It became clear that what had seemed to be the perfect maze of buildings was in fact perfectly ordered. The safest route for us to take had been marked out.

Still, at all times we had to keep our eyes focused on any camera or one of the many droids busily lifting boxes from one location to another. At times, it was a matter of patience, otherwise speed but at all times stealth.

Then with one last burst of speed, we reached the warehouse that was our destination and darted inside. It was obvious even in the dim light that the ship was not at all what we were expecting. It was small but worse again it looked like an automated delivery class ship. There was no space for a crew only cargo. We looked at each other in despair before Tabitha started muttering.

“It’s okay follow me. I think I know what we can do.”

I followed close behind.

She went over to the cargo.

“Come on. Help me open one of these!”

Wheelchair Wars Part 3 (15)

Timothy brought his battle chair to a halt a few feet from the welcoming party. A tall muscular man kitted out in body armor and carrying a large laser on his back began to speak.

“Timothy, welcome home! Everyone here already feels like they know you to some extent. Everybody has seen the replays of your most famous battles fighting for the Omega. You are also family to a significant portion of us, including myself.”

Timothy had intended to let him finish speaking but just found himself blurting out –

“Family?”

“Yes, family. All those women you had during your prime fighting days sired many births. Then after you left, any trace of you was highly valued and your offspring sired many, many more. Not just on this planet but throughout the sector. For instance, you are my great three times grandfather. So, you are not just here to defend your homeworld but also your progeny.”

For a brief few moments, Timothy was stunned but he regained his composure.

“Well, I better get to it. There is a war to be won.”

“Follow me. The planet has much changed since you were last here I’ve told. The air wasn’t even breathable.”

“Indeed and I had been hoping to use that to our advantage. Those plans will have to change.”