December 15, 2111
Catharine Darcrose
Alone, Cathy Darcrose sat in the cockpit of the dropship she was piloting. Traditionally, a captain of a ground-based unit such as hers doesn't fly starships; however, wolf-pack units are something of an aberration in the force. Given the high variation their missions often present, they are forced to be a jack-of-all-trades. For this reason, Cathy and a few others on her crew were trained on the basics of piloting dropships. That, naturally, was one small reason her unit's the most decorated of all the wolf-packs. Her individual skill and the loyalty of each soldier under her command has given her a sense of pride. Her crew consisted of Kenny Morison, first lieutenant and medic; Vayhara Lomia'dicia, second lieutenant and engineer; Edward McCollister, weapons specialist; Tommlar Wloque, navigations specialist; and Skolla, warwolf.
The view as Cathy approached the home world of the omelics was stunning. Omulice was given a great gift not seen anywhere else in the known galaxy. Their oversized planet is surrounded by motionless asteroids netted together in thousands of energy lines bursting with pulses of energy every few seconds. Essentially, Omulice was surround by a web of defensive energy. Located throughout this defensive network were stations, and starships must have clearance to pass through. And all the above may seem implausible to achieve, and it would've been had the technology not already been installed ever so generously by the Devisors. Or so it is believed. The omelics just learned how to work the defensive network of their planet for themselves and have never seen a threat brave enough to attack their home planet in all its history. Lucky them.
Looking up at a mirror, Cathy adjusted it towards herself. She put her thumb to her lower jaw and gave her skin a small tug downward, checking her skin coloration. Her hair was dyed coal-black to match her sister Beverly Darcrose. Cathy and her younger sister had more resemblances than just hair; expressive eyes bright with color, cheekbones that sat high on their faces, curved lips, and hourglass figures. But Cathy lacked her sister's smile that sent people gleaming with happiness. Cathy's smile was more strained, and she sometimes looked like she was forcing it. What she lacked in that appeal, she made up with a body that was more toned than her sister. Maybe even more so than her younger brother, Alexander. Then again, that enthusiastic geek was no crowing jewel of physique.
At the memory of her brother, she had to hold back a tear.
In solitude, Cathy pulled a bowl filled with freshly cut watermelons closer to her. It was her favorite snack food, and she started to munch on some as she stared into the vastness of deep space.
The lieutenant of the 707 Wolf-Pack, Kenny Morison, entered the pilot's den. "Hey, look. We're almost there." He pointed out the window.
"Good observation," Cathy said, with her brand of dry humor.
He tapped the bowl of cut watermelons. "See you still got a taste for strange snacks."
"It's the best snack. You can never eat too much of it, low calories, mostly water, and most importantly… watermelon is damn good."
Kenny gave her a few judging laughs through his nose. Even so, he was curious enough to pick up a piece and take a bite. "Not for me." He tossed the rest of his piece in a trash bin, and Cathy looked at the travesty with mournful eyes.
"Go! Get! I don't want a watermelon waster in my cockpit. Leave me in peace." Cathy shooed him off with half a laugh.
Kenny held up his hands and left her alone.
Taking a bite from another slice, Cathy piloted the starship into the space station where she was supposed to visit. She was no professional at this, but she had enough skill to get the job done.
The ship passed through a massive atmospheric door that covered the entire side of the hangar. Ships and other material could pass, but the air and pressure were held at bay.
The starship landed with a short skid, and Cathy cringed a bit at the landing. Even so, it was time to meet the Space Guard, the watchers of all that enter and leave Omulice.
"Everyone wait here. I'll go out alone," Cathy commanded her crew as she departed.
Outside the ship, there were more than a dozen omelics, most of whom were performing chores in the hangar and tidying up ships. Not to her surprise, she didn't see a single female. From the books she read about omelics, it was in their culture to ostracize their women. Such a shame, too, for lack for a better word.
There was a welcome party for her, three omelic men with one at the head.
"Welcome to Omulice, human. Do you have an authorization chip?" the one in the center asked.
Cathy pulled it from a pocket and handed it to the man. He inspected it and then scanned it with his cyberwatch. "So that's who you are… one Catharine Darcrose. I was told to expect you from the king of the Tolkran Kingdom himself." The man pushed a button on his helmet, and it retracted into his armor, revealing his face; sharp-featured and gaunt as a mountain crag, but there was a glimmer of affability in his blue-gray eyes. "Nice to meet you. I'm Wouren Lightbourne, Station Commander of this particular outpost. Come. Follow me while these two inspect the ship."
"Will it be long?" she asked him.
"I assure you it won't."
Wouren Lightbourne motioned Cathy towards the other end of the hangar, and they began walking. As they walked, she noticed she was getting some rather obnoxious, even objectifying signals and stares from some of the crew. Such brazen, crude gestures was nothing anyone should be used to.
With a quieter tone, Cathy said, "I can't tell, but it seems some of your crew have it out for me."
"Don't mind them. The Space Guard consists of men from various kingdoms, and some of them come from places where older ideals reign supreme. And… and not many of them have ever seen a human before."
"Older ideals?"
"Many kingdoms treat their women less than should be." Wouren nodded to one omelic cleaning a ship part as they passed. "He came from the Surben Kingdom… has three wives, all of whom probably wish they were born elsewhere."
"So the rumors are true. Omelic women are treated as objects."
"Sadly in many kingdoms, that is the truth."
"You're different. I can tell."
Wouren smiled. "As it happens, I'm from the place you're headed, the Tolkran Kingdom. I don't want to ruin the surprise, but my home kingdom has come a long way."
"I'm glad to hear that, or else this would be a long mission." Cathy's small joke fell flat. She cleared her throat. "How did you end up here anyway?"
"The Space Guard consists mostly of volunteers taking tours of duty. No one's life bound here; rather, it's seen as service to our planet."
"Is that your reason for being here?"
"Well, my house has always held a tradition that at least one person per generation take up duty and guard our planet. Although--"
"Although what?"
"Omulice is a big, beautiful world, and most of the omelics that inhabit the world live and die in the same kingdom they were born to without venturing out to explore all that the galaxy has to offer. I don't want to be most."
Catharine understood that sense of wonder and excitement. Once, she used to be the same way. Then duty took over.
They arrived at the edge of the other side of the hangar. Through the atmospheric field, she was able to see the legendary world of Omulice.
"It's beautiful," Cathy marveled.
"I've heard it called Earth's Big Brother. And really it is. The surface is thrice as big. The mountains are bigger, the oceans, the land, trees, and… and the creatures of course. There've been creatures on our world that would dwarf your dinosaurs." Wouren chuckled.
"Should I be worried? I've read that Omulice has some of the deadliest wildlife of any known planet."
"Absolutely, you should be. But it is other kingdoms that you should watch out for most of all. People are always more dangerous. Make sure you stay over the clouds and head straight for the Tolkran Kingdom."
"I will." Cathy nodded.
Wouren stuck out his hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you. I wish you safety on your journey."
Cathy shook his hand. "I thank you for your advice."
Wouren motioned her back to her starship, and they walked together in silence. After listening to what Wouren said, Cathy had a wrongful gut feeling, and her inner conscious urged her to stay away. This planet may be more dangerous than any other she had visited. However, that was no excuse to stop. The mission comes before all.
Is finding the Brotherhood of Relics going to be worth all the trouble? Cathy wondered to herself. But who was she to question authority?