Chapter 11

Fielding walked the bridge of the battle-scarred cruiser, watching his crew work tediously around the clock to get the ship back to 100.
"Don't worry, people," said Fielding, sipping on a cup of fresh coffee, "After the repairs, we are basically on vacation."
They all knew, so that just made them work that much harder. Fielding exited the bridge, walking down the corridor to the rear of the ship, his mug still in hand. Crewmen working on access hatches in the corridor saluted him as strode past. Fielding returned the salutes, continuing on his way.
"Time to see how the engines are doing," thought Fielding, "damn, this is good coffee," he added, taking another sip.
He entered the engine bay, which was in complete disarray from the attack. Parts were strewn about, wires hanging out everywhere, the men suffering from fatigue working around the clock to get the engines at full power.
"So," questioned Fielding, "what's the word."
A man with a PDA, covered in grease and grime, walked over to Fielding.
"Not good, Sir," replied the man, "The starboard engine is shot, the main reactor is cracked and leaking, so full repair is impossible. We are trying to fix the leak to get us some sufficient power. The hull, as you can see, has been repaired, which used to be a gaping hole there. I recommend a complete overhaul of the engine bay, both port and starboard when we dock at Solomon for supplies."
"I fully agree with you on that," said Fielding, nodding, "Keep up the good work, any power is better than no power."
"Yes, Sir," stated the man, saluting, and continuing his work.
Fielding made his way back to the bridge, passing the same people in the corridor. He went through the airlock and sat in his deck chair, thumbing through reports of activities in the area. Priss handed Fielding a data disk.
"A urgent message from Commander Derril Brandt," informed Priss, looking exhausted from lack of sleep.
"Thanks, X.O.," replied Fielding, inserting the disk into his PDA, "Take a rest, X.O., you need it," he added, looking into Priss' sleepless eyes.
"Thank you, Sir," said Priss, handing his work to a junior officer, and headed to his cabin.
The data disk contained a video recording of Brandt, speaking about Fielding.
"Captain Thomas Fielding," said Brandt, on the video, "I have read some astonishing things about you and your crew."
Fielding continued listening to the recording.
"I am so pleased with your performance, that I will be making a personal appearance before I land on Earth, to meet a cruiser captain of your integrity is an honor for anyone," the recording ended abruptly.
"Can't wait to meet the Cmdr. Brandt, I mean it is THE Cmdr. Brandt, the best fighter pilot, turned MS pilot in the EMF," said Fielding, closing his PDA.

"Not that I don't like it here or anything," commented Rush, dying for some action, being stationary for 3 days straight, "but when are we going to actually fight in this war or what?"
"Stop your bitching," snapped Rachel, "man, you are the most whiney person I have ever met."
"ME?" replied Rush, offended, "You are like a freaking psycho."
Rachel turned and locked eyes with Rush.
"Don't make me whip your ass, again, for the 3rd time," she said, calmly.
"I let you win," defended Rush, "I couldn't concentrate."
"Just admit it," Rachel stated, "I am better than you at some things, get over it."
"No," he said, standing up, "you cheated," using the lamest excuse.
"Now you are just being egotistical," she stated, "You can't stand to lose, can you?"
"I accept defeat when it needs accepted, not forced, especially when you cheated," Rush informed.
"1, I didn't cheat, 2, I am right, and 3, the worst of it is, I am a girl, that is what eats at you, doesn't it?" She said, toying with his mind.
Rush just looked at her, it was almost as she could read his mind at times.
"You are freaky," commented Rush, headed for his suit.
"Where are you going?" she asked, "You aren't leaving until I get another message from Dr. Ciao."
"Don't worry," he replied, hopping up onto the suit, "I'm just checking a few things."
Rush turned on his suit's computer, opening his access to USC reports. Rush saw something that caught his eye:

"S7-CN0023 DISASTER, MILLIONS DEAD"

"What the hell?" thought Rush, "This can't be real, the Side 7 Armada would have slaughtered any EMF attackers.
Pictures from surrounding colonies revealed the horror; a lone EMF suit destroyed the colony, killing numerous civilians. Rush was frozen with hate, anger, and agony, unable to move.
"Mom...D-Dad," he said softly, his eyes mystified with tears.
A picture of Brandt's suit filled the display screen.
"You will die by my hands," gritted Rush, "I will avenge my parents."
Rush controlled himself from damaging anything around him. He turned everything off, came out of the suit, acting like nothing ever happened. Rachel walked over from the campsite, seeing what he was doing. Rush walked slowly over to Rachel, his head low. She stopped, noticing something was wrong. Rush leaned on her, embracing her with a hug.
"What's the matter, Rush," questioned Rachel, knowing he never acts like this.
"They killed them," said Rush softly, tears forming in his eyes.
"Who? Who killed who?" questioned Rachel, confused.
"The EMF, they killed my parents, along with the population of S7-CN0023," replied Rush, crying softly.
Rush fell to his knees, Rachel kneeling down with him.
"Why?" questioned Rush, "Why must I suffer like this, everyone I know and love is dead, so what is the point of living if I am miserable?"
"Don't talk like that," Rachel said, resting his head on her shoulder, "I know it is hard, but you will have your chance, but that won't fix what has happened."
Rush enjoyed Rachel's company, feeling worth again.
"Rachel?" he asked, saddened
"Yes, Rush?" she replied, looking into his eyes.
"If it weren't for you, I'd probably would ha-"
"Don't say anything else," she interrupted, "You are too good for that."
"Actually," Rush said, comforted by Rachel, "not everyone is gone."
"Glad to hear," She replied, trying to cheer him up, also knowing what he meant.

A communicator ringing signal sounded loudly, echoing off of the metallic walls.
Brandt awoke in his cabin, groggy.
"Cmdr. Brandt?" said a man's voice on his personal communicator.
"Speaking," replied Brandt, picking up the device.
"Have you arrived on Earth yet?" questioned the man.
"No," said Brandt, recognizing the voice, "we don't have ships like you do."
"I see," replied the man, "keep forgetting about that, sorry."
"No problem, "Brandt replied, "and before you say it, no, I haven't piloted the suit since Side 7."
"What I was going to say," the man stated, irritated, "was my actual name is Cmdr. Serge."
"Ok," said Brandt, "why do I need to know this?"
"For future conversations," informed Serge, ending the discussion.
Brandt shut his communicator, rolled over, and fell asleep.