Erlewis
Lord of Altera
This is a story I began working on based off of the television series by Joss Whedon called Firefly. Hope you all enjoy.
Chapter One: The End
Captain Robert Chambers lounged on his bunk, flying a tiny scale model of a Juggernaut-class space station around and around a globe on his bunk-side table. The globe was an antique he had picked up at a flea market on a backwater moon on the rim of space. The sellers had no idea of its true value; otherwise it wouldn't have the two-digit price tag.
The true value of the globe wasn't in its quality. In truth, it was poorly made, and the rusted steel frame that held it up was bent at a forty-five degree angle to the side. No, its value lay in what it represent; the Earth-That-Was. Sometimes Robert enjoyed running his fingers over the contours on the sphere, representing mountains, and valleys, imagining to himself how the planet’s inhabitants could’ve ever left.
Of course, he knew how. Enough history lessons as a child had made it very clear to him that the humans of centuries ago were wasteful, and used up the Earth-That-Was. All its vegetation, all its minerals, everything of value to human life, gone. So they built spacecraft, with engines powerful enough to fling them to other stars. These humans built the first starships.
They found other planets, places they could terra-form, or make into Earth-like planets. The inner core of planets, nearest to Earth, developed strong bonds. As more and more planets were terra-formed and developed, the inner planets formed an Alliance. They had decided that all other planets should fall under their control. However, many disagreed with them…
The Captain’s communication device clicked and gave a burst of static, startling him out of his reverie. The device adjusted, clarifying the signal that came from the upper decks of the starship. The voice that spoke sounded upset, and more than a little nervous. “Captain? It’s Amy. We’ve arrived, and I think you might want to see this.”
Robert pulled his brown trench coat over his black shirt, and tied a red scarf around his neck. He wanted his crew to see him looking his best. As little of a “uniform” this was, it was how the Alliance recognized their enemy. “Browncoats”, they called them. The Browncoats had replied with their own nicknames; “Purple-bellies”, for the scintillating effect that came from the standard issue Alliance body armour. The Browncoats had plenty worse names, but Robert preferred not to use them, and lose his crew’s respect.
Robert rushed up to the bridge. He pulled a lever on the door, and the pneumatics hissed as it opened. Striding inside he walked the small distance from the door to the pilot’s chair. The high back spun around to reveal a petite young woman with short brown hair and wide eyes. She wore a similar coat to the Captain’s, but added to her apparel was a brown cap. Robert nodded to her. “You called me up here, Amy?”
She nodded, and swallowed. “Y-yes Captain.” Robert had already realized something was wrong. If everything was right, the crew would have been called to their battle stations already. Robert summoned the courage to ask; “What’s happened? We got here a little late, but we can still help the troops at Serenity.” Amy shook her head, and said nothing. She just pointed out the cockpit’s window.
Robert had been avoiding looking outside, but now turned slowly towards the window. The sight that was before his eyes was unbearably painful. A valley spread out before his eyes along the surface of the world beneath, like a gash. Fires burned everywhere. It was clear that encampments had been set up at both sides, but only one had any activity. Robert allowed his eyes to be drawn there.
He saw an Alliance starship, looking like a whale with a city on its back. From its underbelly, dozens of dropships flew down, as if they were children of some gargantuan monster. The small ships landed on the surface, near groups of eight or nine people. The people stood, and even from here, Robert could see the distinctive brown coats of his allies. The rebels. Pushing them along were the glinting figures of Alliance soldiers.
Robert forced himself to look to the other end of the valley, where a desolate camp stood. A dead camp. His eyes stung, and he felt a sharp pain as his fingernails, buried in his clenched fists, cut through flesh. He became suddenly aware of Amy speaking to him. He turned his head. “What did you say?” She had her hands posed over the controls. She sighed. “I said; ‘What now?’”
Robert turned completely away from the window, determined not to look back. “Set a course for one of the outer planets, a moon, if at all possible. We need to resupply, have the ship stripped of weapons, and make this thing look like a cargo ship.” Amy frowned. “Captain, sir? Aren’t we going to try to find any reinforcements and regroup the fleet?” Robert sighed. “No Amy, we’re not. The war’s over. We’re done with this, and now we have to find a new life. We’ve come to the end.”
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Chapter One: The End
Captain Robert Chambers lounged on his bunk, flying a tiny scale model of a Juggernaut-class space station around and around a globe on his bunk-side table. The globe was an antique he had picked up at a flea market on a backwater moon on the rim of space. The sellers had no idea of its true value; otherwise it wouldn't have the two-digit price tag.
The true value of the globe wasn't in its quality. In truth, it was poorly made, and the rusted steel frame that held it up was bent at a forty-five degree angle to the side. No, its value lay in what it represent; the Earth-That-Was. Sometimes Robert enjoyed running his fingers over the contours on the sphere, representing mountains, and valleys, imagining to himself how the planet’s inhabitants could’ve ever left.
Of course, he knew how. Enough history lessons as a child had made it very clear to him that the humans of centuries ago were wasteful, and used up the Earth-That-Was. All its vegetation, all its minerals, everything of value to human life, gone. So they built spacecraft, with engines powerful enough to fling them to other stars. These humans built the first starships.
They found other planets, places they could terra-form, or make into Earth-like planets. The inner core of planets, nearest to Earth, developed strong bonds. As more and more planets were terra-formed and developed, the inner planets formed an Alliance. They had decided that all other planets should fall under their control. However, many disagreed with them…
The Captain’s communication device clicked and gave a burst of static, startling him out of his reverie. The device adjusted, clarifying the signal that came from the upper decks of the starship. The voice that spoke sounded upset, and more than a little nervous. “Captain? It’s Amy. We’ve arrived, and I think you might want to see this.”
Robert pulled his brown trench coat over his black shirt, and tied a red scarf around his neck. He wanted his crew to see him looking his best. As little of a “uniform” this was, it was how the Alliance recognized their enemy. “Browncoats”, they called them. The Browncoats had replied with their own nicknames; “Purple-bellies”, for the scintillating effect that came from the standard issue Alliance body armour. The Browncoats had plenty worse names, but Robert preferred not to use them, and lose his crew’s respect.
Robert rushed up to the bridge. He pulled a lever on the door, and the pneumatics hissed as it opened. Striding inside he walked the small distance from the door to the pilot’s chair. The high back spun around to reveal a petite young woman with short brown hair and wide eyes. She wore a similar coat to the Captain’s, but added to her apparel was a brown cap. Robert nodded to her. “You called me up here, Amy?”
She nodded, and swallowed. “Y-yes Captain.” Robert had already realized something was wrong. If everything was right, the crew would have been called to their battle stations already. Robert summoned the courage to ask; “What’s happened? We got here a little late, but we can still help the troops at Serenity.” Amy shook her head, and said nothing. She just pointed out the cockpit’s window.
Robert had been avoiding looking outside, but now turned slowly towards the window. The sight that was before his eyes was unbearably painful. A valley spread out before his eyes along the surface of the world beneath, like a gash. Fires burned everywhere. It was clear that encampments had been set up at both sides, but only one had any activity. Robert allowed his eyes to be drawn there.
He saw an Alliance starship, looking like a whale with a city on its back. From its underbelly, dozens of dropships flew down, as if they were children of some gargantuan monster. The small ships landed on the surface, near groups of eight or nine people. The people stood, and even from here, Robert could see the distinctive brown coats of his allies. The rebels. Pushing them along were the glinting figures of Alliance soldiers.
Robert forced himself to look to the other end of the valley, where a desolate camp stood. A dead camp. His eyes stung, and he felt a sharp pain as his fingernails, buried in his clenched fists, cut through flesh. He became suddenly aware of Amy speaking to him. He turned his head. “What did you say?” She had her hands posed over the controls. She sighed. “I said; ‘What now?’”
Robert turned completely away from the window, determined not to look back. “Set a course for one of the outer planets, a moon, if at all possible. We need to resupply, have the ship stripped of weapons, and make this thing look like a cargo ship.” Amy frowned. “Captain, sir? Aren’t we going to try to find any reinforcements and regroup the fleet?” Robert sighed. “No Amy, we’re not. The war’s over. We’re done with this, and now we have to find a new life. We’ve come to the end.”
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Any constructive criticism, and/or encouragement would be great, and would help me keep writing. Thanks!