Author's Note

Just a note on pronunciations; Galatea (ga-luh-tay), Shima (shee-muh), Vasudan (vuh-soo-den), Schaard (shard), Risnan (riz-nen). I've heard Galatea pronounced "ga-luh-tay-uh" as well, but I prefer the other pronunciation. Also, I didn't mean to make any connection with Sanford & Sons when I gave the hothead pilot the name "Sanford"; it just sounded like a good name at the time. So, if you make that connection, then just know that it was unintentional.

Disclaimer: Volition-inc. owns Descent: Freespace, Admiral Shima, the SC Taranis and several other things. I own Vincent Schaard and Lt. Risnan as well as most of the plot, except where it intertwines with or makes reference to the plot of the game.

Fun Fact: The laser gun was invented as a successor to the Bee Bee gun; it fires non-lethal laser beams that cause a discoloration in most objects, making them useful for target practice, especially since you cannot see the projectile, which is typical of modern-day firearms. Lethal rifles utilize plasma, which is much more economical and can be formed into bullets.

Chapter Two: 2/4/2335 Off to Barnard's Star

Today we receive our first real assignment; so far we've only been sent on uneventful patrol and escort missions, but now we're sure to get some combat experience under our belts.

"In light of recent victories against the Shivans as well as the capture of the SC Taranis, Command has decided that we should temporarily shift our attention to the Hammer of Light. HOL ships have been gathering in Barnard's Star, and we hope to send our newest squadron, the 66th, to meet them head-on.

"The GTD Bastion is needed elsewhere, however, so you will therefore be joining the GTD Intrepid for the duration of the mission. The Intrepid will provide heavy weapons cover as well as one wing of Athena bombers and one wing of Valkyries. Lt. Risnan will brief you on the specifics of your mission."

Arrangements had already been made for us to change ships, and the Bastion is currently waiting in Delta Serpentis outside the Beta Aquilae node. I hear a static crackle as I walk, in full flight suit, to the hangar: "GTD Intrepid ETA: twelve minutes."

I only have eleven minutes to get down to the hangar and fly out to meet the Intrepid; we're required to be out and ready to dock before the destroyer arrives. Of course, we were glad to hear that we'd be able to take our ships with us. A pilot gets attached to his vessel, especially after working out the seat adjustments. Some of the guys, including Ron, had gone so far as to paint numbers on the sides, and had said they would begin marking off kills once we got to see some action.

We all fly GTF Apollos, the best fighter in the GTA. Of course, it could be better with a larger payload or better shielding, but the only other active fighter is the Valkyrie, and it may have speed over the Apollo, but its hull and shields are weaker, and it has only one missile bank. Nevertheless, the Apollo has been around since the start of the Terran-Vasudan war, and it has become a symbol of the GTA, typically featuring prominently on recruitment posters and television spots.

The Apollo is a good ship, but now that we've allied with the Vasudans, we've begun to see what their ships can really do. They have a few more ship classes than we do, but many act like counterparts to ours. The most numerous are the Anubis fighters, which we saw all the time during the last fourteen years, but they've been showing up less since the Shivans arrived. Now the Vasudans seem to prefer the Seth fighter, and who can blame them? It's like a tougher Apollo, comparable in speed, with the same load-out and much stronger shields.

The Shivan ships, on the other hand, can make bizarre maneuvers, from what I've seen and heard, and are mostly black with some red sections and green vein-like parts that make them look almost alive. That said, their ships must have a visual advantage, being more difficult to see against the black void of space, not to mention the fear tactic.

But back to the Vasudans. We've been seeing more of them, recently. So far, we've only worked with them on a few missions, but I hear Command has begun recruiting Vasudans to Terran squadrons, and that the Galatea already has two Vasudan squadrons on duty. There are some on board here who still don't like the Vasudans, mostly those who've lost a friend to a Vasudan attack. Fortunately for me, there isn't anyone like that in the 66th; I would argue with them extensively.

From brief radio chatter alone, I have the feeling that it would be very interesting to talk with a Vasudan. I actually know very little about their culture, but I do know that their language has very strict rules dependant on rank and social class, and that they seem to have taken an interest in ancient Egyptian culture. Aside from that, I, like most Terrans, find Vasudan culture very confusing and distant.

I hope there aren't too many Terrans who use this as an excuse to hate the Vasudans; you would think that after millennia of racial prejudice on Earth, and the disastrous results of it, that we would have the sense to treat other forms of intelligent life with respect and understanding. I suppose its human nature to fear the unknown, though. That's the whole reason why we have science and religion, and hating someone is easier than trying to understand them.

Now, I've reached the hangar, and I see a few of my squad mates have already arrived. Ron is among them, and they all look impatient.

"GTA Intrepid ETA: five minutes."

"I think they use the same automated voice for that intercom that they use for the Vasudan translators," Ron says, "Hey, Vince."

"Hi, Ron," I say, "So, we finally get a real mission."

"Yeah, it's about time," says Sanford, one of the other squad mates.

Sanford is a bit of a hothead, and he's been itching to flip the weapons master switch on his control panel. I bet he's a pretty good shot too; he seems like one of those kids who grew up with a laser pistol.

"Damn right," I hear a fourth voice from behind me, and instantly recognize it as that of Lt. James Risnan. We all turn towards him quickly and salute, but he says, "At ease. We've got about four minutes to get out there and wait for the Intrepid, so let's get a move on."

Risnan was a pretty laid back guy, I wouldn't be surprised if he was only a lieutenant because he had no motivation to move up the ranks. After only a few missions, we had heard a few tips and tactics from him that suggested, to me at least, that he could easily take the rank of Commodore.

We walk quickly to our Apollos and strap in. Mine is still fairly clean, a sign of how little I've used it, but Ron's has a few scars on it, in addition to his self-proclaimed number "5", from foolish maneuvers he tends to do when he gets bored; he's a good pilot, but too impatient. Risnan's fighter is scarred and darkened, an old war veteran. I wondered if he'd been demoted like Ron, and if so, why.

"GTD Intrepid ETA: two minutes."

Risnan's voice comes in over the radio, "Alright, boys-"

Another voice cuts in, "What was that, lieutenant?" the one female member of our squad was a mild firebrand: Tate. I know it sounds far too typical of a woman pilot, like something out of a bad TV show, but some things have a true basis.

"-boys and girls," Risnan continues, "I know you're feeling adventurous, but don't get too excited; we're flying from this hanger to an identical one on the Intrepid. I want this to go as smoothly and calmly as possible. You hear me, Hughes?"

"Smooth, yeah," says Ron.

Risnan begins the countdown, "Lift off in three… two… one!"

We take off in unison, and pass safely through the hangar's barrier. The first things to meets my eyes are twenty subspace warp portals off to my right, and the flood of red-speckled, black ships that pour out of them.