Chapter 1
The sun shone bright on this morning of May 7th, year 3580. Waves splashed in fierce turbulence against the pink hues of the horizon. Warm breezes blew the hair out of Mara Koilo's face, as she soaked in the sunrises' beauty. She stood against the railing of the Oceanic Military training base, situated in the Atlantic.
Mara's straight blonde hair refused to stay in the bun she did early that morning. What with the wind blowing it about; she sighed at the thought of having to fix her hair again. Catching herself complaining, she prayed for strength and patience for this new day. She closed her eyes. Mara knew that if she began complaining, she had an unpleasant attitude that would make things difficult. Opening her dark blue eyes, she determined not to let that be the case.
Migrating birds passed overhead. Loud waves tormenting the exposed parts of the base added to the high sea experience. Mara, in her uniform of a camouflaged cobalt jacket and thick, yet flexible matching pants, began to feel uncomfortably warm in the southerly wind. It was time to head back inside and report to the commanding officer.
Striding to the door, her black boots made heavy footfall sounds against the aluminum plated flooring. Mara took her translucent card hanging around her neck and placed it in the slot. A thin green light around the slot, signaled clearance. Double gray doors swished open.
Quickly, going right, to the 'transporter', Mara stepped into the tall blue-lit conduit. She said, "Headquarters". In a split second she reappeared in the submerged part of the base. She was thankful for the thick uniform. Temperatures here dropped to uncanny freezing levels.
Officers, cadets, and soldiers passed by in a frenzy of blue, green, and gray. She made her way across the traffic to a double-gray door. This time it was adorned with the United States flag, with a bald eagle over it. Using her security card, Mara entered the headquarters.
Even after being here for over 1 year, going through intense training, it still took her breath away whenever she beheld the reality of where she was. Looking up she saw enormous clear plating revealing oceanic depths and a deep sea assault training mission. Huge gliding vessels shot to and fro with an occasional explosion near each ship. Occasionally, a vibration was felt through the flooring.
Mara crossed the control center. She could see her fellow Airmen already there waiting for the commanding officer above on the next level. It still gave her the creeps whenever she stood up there on the translucent floor. Not only was there depth sensed below, but above there was the clear window to the ocean above. It practically gave the impression you were in a bubble. Despite the insufficient light coming from the surface, the clear plating was lined with very bright, white lights. Taking the stairs, she jogged up to meet the group.
"Boy, you were cutting it close, Koilo", said Airman Samuel Vlassteal. He stood there amongst the others, with folded arms across his chest. Mara knew he was right. She spent way too much time on deck that morning.
Just as Mara was about to respond, their commanding officer, Captain Willards, appeared in the conduit at the far end of the wall to her left. Everyone promptly came to attention, and took their proper places.
Captain Willards wore a focused expression, as he came toward them. He also wore his decorated uniform; which either meant he had a meeting later or they were in for new assignments. Their training was quickly coming to an end. Mara could feel some anticipation rising within the group as they waited. They knew the day was coming soon when the Airmen would receive new orders. 'Just maybe this day is it', thought Mara.
" At ease, Airmen."
He took off his hat. "Today you are receiving new orders." He paused, smiling. "You have shown exceptional skills in your exhaustive training. Keep it up. I may have to promote one or two of you. Now Major Swielescht is going to give you each an assignment explaining your mission. I am off to a meeting with the Commander. Godspeed!"
With that he took the stairs to the lower level, with a salute from the group. Sure enough, the colonel showed up at the conduit. Mara once again followed suit in immediate stance. He wore his green camouflage uniform and carried a small glass board.
Colonel Swielescht saluted, then turned his attention to his clear slate. He tapped an invisible ear piece and called for a Sergeant Delving.
"Alright, Airmen, at ease. Here is how this is going to work, I shall call you up, then Sergeant Delving will hand you your orders. You will have 1 hour after that to gather your things and report to your new base. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Sir!"
Sergeant Delving appeared, standing beside the colonel, both of them were reading the luminous list on the slate.
She called," Airman Carlous Freeman!"
He strode up and took a smaller pad that glowed showing some of the text, from her. He was then dismissed. She called up 6 more people, before Mara was called.
"Airman Mara Koilo!" Koilo strode to the Major and took the tablet handed to her. "You are dismissed to report to the Onkorplas space station in sector 7."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
She saluted, then walked to the stairs. Thrill ran through Mara as she read her orders. She was going to space. This was what she hoped to do in her Military career. She also looked forward to piloting a fighter craft in that sector. Her brother was there as well, but in a different branch of the Military. Any chance of meeting her Army brother would be slim. However, her countenance fell as she came upon something disappointing: "your primary duty onboard Onkorplas security patrol."
'What happened to piloting the Wilopkee ships?', thought Mara. She swallowed a sigh, along with her frustration and continued on to the stairs. She would have to just get through this, whether she liked it or not.
Captain Willards wore a focused expression, as he came toward them. He also wore his decorated uniform; which either meant he had a meeting later or they were in for new assignments. Their training was quickly coming to an end. Mara could feel some anticipation rising within the group as they waited. They knew the day was coming soon when the Airmen would receive new orders. 'Just maybe this day is it', thought Mara.
" At ease, Airmen."
He took off his hat. "Today you are receiving new orders." He paused, smiling. "You have shown exceptional skills in your exhaustive training. Keep it up. I may have to promote one or two of you. Now Major Swielescht is going to give you each an assignment explaining your mission. I am off to a meeting with the Commander. Godspeed!"
With that he took the stairs to the lower level, with a salute from the group. Sure enough, the colonel showed up at the conduit. Mara once again followed suit in immediate stance. He wore his green camouflage uniform and carried a small glass board.
Colonel Swielescht saluted, then turned his attention to his clear slate. He tapped an invisible ear piece and called for a Sergeant Delving.
"Alright, Airmen, at ease. Here is how this is going to work, I shall call you up, then Sergeant Delving will hand you your orders. You will have 1 hour after that to gather your things and report to your new base. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Sir!"
Sergeant Delving appeared, standing beside the colonel, both of them were reading the luminous list on the slate.
She called," Airman Carlous Freeman!"
He strode up and took a smaller pad that glowed showing some of the text, from her. He was then dismissed. She called up 6 more people, before Mara was called.
"Airman Mara Koilo!" Koilo strode to the Major and took the tablet handed to her. "You are dismissed to report to the Onkorplas space station in sector 7."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
She saluted, then walked to the stairs. Thrill ran through Mara as she read her orders. She was going to space. This was what she hoped to do in her Military career. She also looked forward to piloting a fighter craft in that sector. Her brother was there as well, but in a different branch of the Military. Any chance of meeting her Army brother would be slim. However, her countenance fell as she came upon something disappointing: "your primary duty onboard Onkorplas security patrol."
'What happened to piloting the Wilopkee ships?', thought Mara. She swallowed a sigh, along with her frustration and continued on to the stairs. She would have to just get through this, whether she liked it or not.
