The Jump, Part one in a Series
Posted By: Stefano Scalia<sscalia@mac.com>
Date: 9 August 2002, 6:30 pm
Read/Post Comments
|
The trip hadn't been fun. He always thought of joining the Marines, but never wanted to actually fight. He loved the weaponry, especially the standard issue Assault Rifle. He always had high scores in Marksmanship and Outdoors combat. What he didn't have was a solid gut.
"Pass the damn motion sickness preventative." Motioned private Scalia.
"Here, remember: only one private, or else you'll be of less use to us than a fucking beanie baby." said Captain Roberts.
"Yeah Yeah, Sir." Replied Scalia.
Private Scalia always hated space travel; zero gravity always got the best of him. The ships' inertia dampeners and gravity generators couldn't be on within 100,000 miles of earth. They had about 20 more minutes of travel time at their current speed. Private Scalia gleefully cleaned his weapon, marveling at the spring-less design.
"How do you like the new rifles?" said private Kenwood, who was strapped in across from Scalia.
"Incredible gas system - can't wait to shoot something with it."
"The thing is, it needs to be completely fired in a vacuum before you can change the clip, or the whole thing will implode." Replied Kenwood.
"That's good to know, thanks." Said Scalia.
The ship jolted, and ground to a halt. The ships gentle female AI voice announced:
"Launching into slipstream. Secure weapons and all hatches. Prepare for full battle status once we exit the slipstream."
Everyone sat ready.
"You heard the lady, get your shit together Marines! Once again, I am not here to baby you little fruits! I could care less if your mother didn't hug you enough when you were a child - you will follow my orders to the point!"
"Sir, Yes Sir!" Droned the group of marines.
Scalia turned to see Marines securing their belts for travel. He always kept his on, remembering the days of his childhood spent in the Jumbo Jets of yesteryear.
"Entering slipstream in 30 seconds, destination of scrap-planet Reach. Estimated Time of Arrival, 4 days, 22 hours, 12 minutes, 2 seconds."
"Prepare for gravity generator and inertia dampeners engagement."
Private Scalia felt the movement of the ship reverse suddenly, as if it had stopped and reversed direction instantly. He then noticed his armor and boots become heavy, and felt for a split second a feeling of being strangled. Now things settled down. The faint sound of soldiers throwing up echoed in the cabin.
"All systems normal, prepare for jump in ten seconds."
The countdown continued. "6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...."
The ship accelerated infinitely faster. The inertia dampeners could do nothing now. Private Scalia was pressing against the harness to the point he thought his ribs would crack. He could feel his eyes roll back in their sockets. The edges of his vision were now enveloped in black. He started to black out, then suddenly - silence.
Private Scalia and the others pulled down their hibernation masks and connected the intravenous solution pack to their armor. They'd be asleep for the next four days, and then ready to patrol the outer reaches of space - to Reach and beyond.
(Continued in Part II - Failures and Malfunctions, Oh my!)
---
|
