/ Duel Universe
/ Author: The Cowboy of Oklahoma
/ Ch 9: Goodbye Earth
/ word count: 2181
Washington Platform:
"Are you sure about this sir?" Corporal Brier asked.
"Yes Corporal, Earth is no longer a viable home for our collective species, and if the Brethren want to fight so bad for what's left on the ground, they're willing to nuke the few remaining people and waste possible resources, they can have it." Lieutenant Colonel Eastwood answered. "Move all remaining.., surviving.., personnel from the surface to their assigned orbital platforms. We're leaving Earth a little sooner than expected." He turned and walked towards his office. "And tell the squadrons down there to provide overwatch for all evacuating personnel."
"Yes sir." She answered, turning to relay the orders.
It was quiet on the command deck of the platform. Everyone was still in mild shock of the use of such a weapon just to make a statement. Now instead of fighting to the last man, if those still on the surface were crazy enough to destroy their only chance to leave the planet, then they don't need to come along with the rest of humanity. The Gotango, being slightly less damaged than the Baddeck, went to her sister ship and helped to provide support. It took a few hours, but both ships finally moved south of the border, to the last rally point, to gather all resources and personnel they could carry, and then head to their assigned platform or carrier. The squadrons never landed, staying within 20sq miles of the rally point, and then covering transports and cruisers to their destinations. The Brethren forces weren't seen again from the ground. Sensors and most visual options were still being interfered with by some form of jammer, but from what they could use, the forces were now all centralized in what remained of the state of Texas. It took another 5 hours to finally get all remaining resources and personnel loaded. What few prisoners that were being held, were given options to take this last chance to get off the planet or to go be with the remaining humans still on the surface. Some wished to rejoin their Brethren, some asked to make contact with certain individuals, which was not happening with the Brethrens jammers. So it was decided, those that remained would be given what they needed to survive and the rest would leave with the fleet.
The Baddeck:
Akiza III asked to remain with Shelly Carson, she didn't want to be with her father and his crazed friends if he's willing to kill so many for something that even she could see was foolish. The Baddeck was the last ship to lift off, a pair of squadron fighters circling overhead.
"Angel Flight to Baddeck, we're ready to get out of here." Pilots radioed down.
"Roger that Angel Flight, Baddeck ready to lift off in 30 seconds." Shelly answered. "Engage thrusters! Release moorin's! Lift off!" She ordered.
The Baddeck raised off the ground, in a few moments she was nearly 1000ft away from Earth and climbing. She would never set down on the surface of the planet again.
"Goodbye dad." Akiza said with tear filled eyes.
"Ensign Raven, you have the Con. Continue to our destination, and follow proper docking procedures." Shelly said, then walked with Akiza off the bridge.
"Aye ma'am." Raven acknowledged.
They walked to the officers lounge, finding me sitting back with a cup of untouched coffee between his fingers.
"Captain." Shelly said.
I looked up to find the two women entering, the girl, Akiza, was crying.
"Would you two like to be alone?" I asked.
"Please sir. I think we could use some time to ourselves." Shelly answered.
Sighing, I got up. "Alright, I'll be on the bridge if you need me for.."
"I'm sorry." Akizas' small voice said.
"Excuse me?" I turned and looked back.
"I..said, I'm sorry. I'm sorry all this had to happen. I'm sorry I helped to attack the base. I'm sorry if people you knew were killed because of my actions. I'm so.." Her voice was cut off by her head being pulled into my chest.
She didn't know what to think, she was responsible for so much death and destruction. How could he just.
"Quiet your thoughts little one." I said as she began to tremble. "Yes some bad things did happen, but I can't hold you responsible for any of it. You were just used by others. Used by your father. Used by the Brethren. You didn't want any of this. I saw your interrogation video, you genuinely weren't meaning to harm anyone. Just caught up in part of the evil of our world. An evil we're now leaving behind. So leave your thoughts on the matter behind as well, and I'm sorry about your father. We'll keep trying to get a hold of him before we get out of range of the planet, but if they won't remove their jammers.."
"It's okay, I don't think I can handle talking to my dad again."
"Ye' need to at least say ye'r goodbyes to each other." Shelly inserted.
"Yeah, I guess. But like he said, their jammers are blocking everything. So it's pointless to try to.." She was interrupted by the overhead.
"Captain, Lieutenant Commander, please report to the bridge immediately!" Raven's voice sounded urgent.
Reaching the bridge we were pointed to a couple of monitors with a view of the planet below.
"The jammers just went offline two minutes ago. We only noticed when the Washington contacted us, and we intercepted communication traffic from the surface. Most of it was location to location on the planet, but a few were aimed up at the platforms.
A voice came over the speakers, "This is the Brethren Collective. We now claim ownership of this planet and all inhabitants on it. Any that are not with us may never return to her surface under pain of death."
Akizas' eyes widened as she listened to the words. "That's my father's voice. So he really is insane. How could he do that? How.."
"The Brethren claim all Earth based vessels and the souls therein as property of the Brethren. Return all that has been stolen to their rightful.."
A sudden scream over the speakers cut her off, then the speakers gave only static.
"Report!" I ordered.
"Visuals coming up sir. It's the goo sir. The entire continent of North America was just covered in it." Came the reply. "The Brethren outpost, it's been overrun."
"Dad!" Akiza couldn't hold back her emotions anymore. Crying her eyes out and falling over fully distraught.
"Carson take her to the lounge and stay with her!" I suggested.
Shelly moved and grabbed Akiza by the arms, they both left with Shelly pretty much carrying the girl.
Turning to the comms officer, "contact the Washington, tell them we're coming in." I ordered.
"Aye sir." She replied.
Washington Platform:
When we landed, medics and security were waiting to take anyone not registered to a holding area for debrief and to take down their information. Akiza was so distraught, Shelly had to literally carry her off the ship and stayed with her for the entire process. I didn't see them again till the next day. I was ordered to the command deck, Lieutenant Colonel Eastwood wanted to speak with every commanding officer onboard the Washington. There were nearly 30 different officers of the Navy and Marines in the meeting room, and it was a standing room only. Each platform was having their own version of these meetings, only the carriers and cruisers were withheld, because there should only be one commanding officer and maybe a liaison to represent others interests. The rest are all military personnel and none onboard those crafts were civilians. But while any vessel was docked onboard a platform, the platform's commanding officer would be considered in charge after any individual left the ramp of their prior vessel. The platform would need some semblance of order to make sure everyone was as comfortable and safe as possible. A select number of military personnel would be considered for and specially trained to be the security of each platform. All pilots would be tested to become part of the platform and carrier's fighter squadron compliments. And anyone else that was left would remain with their designated cruiser, carrier or command platform.
"Sir, what about the rumors of hypersleep?" One of the other officers asked. "If we could, shouldn't we let as many people as possible sleep our journey away. It would save on a numerous amount of resources and prolong just how long we may be out here."
"Our scientists are still working on it. They say they could have something by the time we reach Mars to pick up the colonists there." Eastwood answered. "But until there is a definitive answer, that information cannot leave this room! If the masses would find sleeping away their woes preferable, thinking they'll get to sleep soon, they could go stir crazy if they discover we can't provide.."
Nods across the room as most were in agreement.
"And might I add to that idea sir." Another officer interjected. "If possible, we should also move some of the military personnel to also be put to sleep if it becomes viable. Leave an operational skeleton crew awake and functional onboard every vessel with a rotation schedule for say, every few months or so. With an emergency measure in place if we're ever come under attack or if something should break down to wake any who are needed on a moment's notice."
That was something to be considered and out on the back burner for a future meeting.
"It is estimated that we won't be in the vicinity of Mars for at least four months, so I suggest we all need to hunker down and get comfortable. Dismissed!" Eastwood said when it was over.
Leaving the meeting room, I made my way to a view port with a visual of the planet below. The goo, having less and less land mass to cover, was now proceeding to what I could only guess to be Panama. It had covered Mexico in a matter of hours. I could only estimate South America to be engulfed in almost the same amount of time, maybe a day at most. It would seem that we had left just in time of being almost too late. From this height, I could see that there were black tendrils icking through the oceans below. Any water based species we couldn't take with us or any we had yet to discover, were now lost to us forever. We now have no choice but to look to the stars, and no matter how much we may want to believe we've made it, that we're going to survive, there is always going to be a nagging sensation at the back of our minds. We may have a large quantity of food and other resources, but we don't have an infinite amount. If we don't find somewhere else to truly live again, we will die out here in the vacuum of space. If the hypersleep idea does pan out, it could make it so we can survive a little longer. But there's another thought not considered in that meeting, babies. Someone, somewhere is going to do the deed, and there will be children running around, well, more than what is already onboard. And putting the children to sleep could be impossible depending on how young they are. More mouths to feed. I head back to the Generals office, I need to bring this concern to his attention, so he can pass it on to the rest of the overall commanders of the whole fleet. Sex is not an option, or at least, finding a way to make women unable to become pregnant until we have somewhere to live, and established a home.
"And what about the ones that just lost family sir? I know of two young women that just lost their only living family member this very day. One by bomb, and one by the goo." I added to the conversation.
"Our onboard psychiatrist's are going to be working overtime for this. The problem is there is no way to be paying them for their services."
"Pay!? We can't be promising any form of payment except that they'll have food to eat and water to drink. Money is flat out useless in our current circumstance. Not even gold or jewels. Every precious metal and stone that is useful, are being shaped and made ready for use in instruments and components of computer systems and weapons." I said.
"I am well aware of that Captain, I was merely stating that their jobs are going to be quite difficult for a few days or even weeks." Eastwood deadpanned.
"Oh, I see. Sorry sir, but I do know that at least those two young females I mentioned, will have a friend's shoulder to cry on. That ought to help the psychiatrist a little. It may be good to have any others that have friends to help with their emotions." I suggested.