Chapter One
The Garden
The
Centaur drifted silently and peacefully through space. A powerful ship, one of the newest of the fleet, it hadn't yet had a chance to prove itself amongst the brethren. Within it's gleaming white hull, the general mood of the crew was a strange mixture – eagerness, to prove themselves. Remorse, for the fallen brethren. Anger, at the intruders who caused this remorse. And lastly, but strongest of all of these: joy, to be serving the Garden.
Unfortunately, machinery did not always share this peace. The
Centaur's main engines had been struggling for some time, switching on and off. They were badly in need of repair, after having a quick run-in with some stray asteroids. The auxiliary engines were slow, and a normal crew would have gone insane from drifting in space so slowly. But the crew of the
Centaur was not normal. They did not see the area around them as space, but as the Garden. Something to cherish and protect, not simply to traverse. This was one of those times when the main engine was out, and the crew was admiring the vastness outside of their protective hull.
Then something happened that had not happened in quite some time – the
Centaur stopped. It was not supposed to stop. On normal ships, this would have caused widespread anxiety. But, once again, this was not a normal ship. All but a few members of the crew were filled with tranquility, and accepted that it was the will of the Garden that they cease movement through it. All of the members who were worried were located either at the bridge, or in the engine section. Within a few moments, there was no one in the engine section to be worried. This, however, did not calm those on the bridge.
“Tuy, please report. This is the bridge. What is happening?” Captain Feveri spoke into his communications device.
“Most likely Kushan tricks, sir. I shall ready the swarmers.” Feveri's First Officer moved to do so, but the Captain stopped him. “No ... we're too far in. They wouldn't try to strike us here, in the arms of the Garden.” “One never knows the limits of the mad, sir.” “Send a security team to check the engines.”
Ten minutes later, an injured security man stumbled onto the deck. “Monsters, sir! Too many of them, killed three, they kept coming ... coming ... coming ....” The man slipped out of consciousness. “Monsters? Ready the soldiers.” commanded the Captain.
With a strange calmness about them, the crew was informed of the apparent attacks and readied themselves with amazing efficiency. Everyone on board slipped into a combat outfit, and readied their weapons. Every person, from the Captain to the lowliest gunner, would fight side by side, as equals. They seemed, incredibly, unaffected, even after the aliens were spotted. Even after the first ranks of the fighters had fallen. Their force was small in comparison to many who had fought, and died, in the face of the alien threat. But they did not worry, for few could withstand the rage of Kadeshi warriors, and the Garden would protect them.
Stay tuned for Chapter 2, in which there are both grangers and swarmers. Also, there will be explosions.
