Stranger Stars
Date: 6th of June, 2559
Location: Outer orbit of the planet Harvest
In the twinkling blackness of space, two starships pressed out into the void. The human planet of Harvest loomed behind them. The surface of the planet, which used to be green, was now a solid gray after having been glassed from orbit by the hostile alien conglomerate known as the Covenant. Many other human colonies felt the same wrath. But Humanity, determined as ever, now worked to chip away the glass and make the planet livable again. Unfortunately, that would take years of work. For some companies it was easier to simply find new planets. Which was the goal of the two ships that were preparing to depart.
Side-by-side floated the the Phoenix-class colony ship, Horizon, and directly to starboard the UNSC Halcyon-class cruiser Mustang. Both ships were recently launched and christened from the UNSC shipyards on Mars. After the Human-Covenant war, the UEG had taken to escorting colony ships on their voyages to unexplored star-systems. It was necessary to deter Kig-yar pirates and rogue alien elements. The Mustang would provide security for the colonial workers while they set up shop. It was a simple task for a ship of her size and capability.
On the bridge of the Mustang stood Captain Erin Martin, a battle-hardened veteran of the war. He was engaged in discussion with his much younger counterpart, Captain Ray Guntner, over holographic comms. Gunter was the civilian captain of the Horizon. He was appointed by the Liang corporation to organize the colonization.
"We'll arrive in orbit around XB555172 "Beta" in roughly two weeks. From there I'll take the Horizon to the surface, while you watch over us from orbit." Capt. Guntner said while his one foot tall hologram gestured to a map of a planet.
Capt. Martin looked down at the map with arms crossed. It was a good looking planet. He could see why Liang Corp wanted to claim it despite its distance. "Sounds like a plan, Mr. Guntner. What do you say we put it into action?" Capt. martin replied enthusiastically.
"Right, then. Let's get moving. Transmitting coordinates to you now, Captain. Horizon, out." With that, Guntners hologram faded away. It was replaced by a green hologram of an 18th century English naval captain. It was the ships AI, Sherwood.
"Coordinates for XB555172 received and verified, sir. Harvest Control has cleared us for synchronized slip-space entry." The AI spoke with a heavy english accent.
"Copy that, Sherwood. Take us in." Martin moved to his command station and pressed a button on the handrail.
"Attention all hands, prepare for slip-space jump. Lockdown all cargo." Martin spoke clearly and concisely.
"Aye aye, sir." Sherwood replied happily.
Both ships began to move forward. A large blue ring with a black center formed infront of them. It was a slip-space portal, and it was large enough to swallow both ships. Exactly as intended. The Mustang and the Horizon made their way inside. After the front half of both ships had entered the portal, there was a sudden and large explosion on the starboard aft engine of the Horizon. Blasts ripped through the hull along the engines. Debris was launched into space. The Horizon began to veer sharply off course. The portal closed and both ships disappeared, leaving only the empty black. And Harvest Control with alot of paperwork.