Chapter One

WAR BEGINS

ABOARD THE JOHN GLENN
Derreck Farb

Scrambled to a Top Security boat, data uploading from all angles, can't process previous revs while current revs loading. My bundle's embossed Derrick Farb Lieutenant, 34th Terran Space Fleet Assault Battalion--least I know who I am.

I know who they are.

They are the High Brass, the Supreme of the Supreme, save Supremo, which is a compute. When it comes to Organic Life Forms, this boat has the prime. At least, what Supremo marks as prime this day in July--think it's July--2496. I haven't been on a mudball so long I forgot how time processes.
For me, out here, Space day is a Stand chopped into 36 piece. An Earth day I know is 24...

"Can we believe them?" Captain Shuman's overly refoed face matches a Buy holo, swiveling tween Expert and Brass.

Bursting like a pressure pot;"Of course you can believe them!" The woice is Professor Jarufsky. She be The Authority on ZerShaz Culture.

"ZerShaziemn of rank as eKhain uReglimi would not lie. Lying under these circumstances is cowardice of the first order."

Who was keying adjectives?

The Zerks had Monster and Monster was fortune. Which of what five Zee boats held him was for data dogs, not hunters as me and my Squaddies. I'd have yawned if four grams less Brass parked in the Ready room. There were more Admirals around this table than non-Admirals, meaning this was serious top level confab.

My Squadron had been snatched from the 5th Sector, to Situation Mega here, on the TSF John Glenn in the 2nd. No one scoped if we were dizzy, quizzy or smacked.

So they upload the data; The Firestone, a Class Eight Battlestar, was vanqed by The Pirate. Dead in Space, surrounded by Zerk warships. Monster, who'd been in the Brig--(and I'm not pious why)--deserted.

Key is Monster.

"So you maintain this eKhain would allow Commander eDapktchoy to simply walk off his ship?" Captain Pullson snorted.

Couldn't lid it;"Captain, he didn't walk off--"

"I appreciate that Lieutenant Farb!" He barks at me.

I enjoyed goading. He had a short fuse, lots of emotional baggage. How he copped Captaincy ticked debate as he didn't have the balance. Some posed blood in high veins, others that he hacked Supreme Military Command. A few got below the waist.  

I wouldn't pluck him to maintain my flyer.

Admiral Barrington raised his hand;"Observors have been recalled from a