This is the First Chapter of "Tainted Life" set in the future
Chapter 1: Return to Terra
Commodore Joseph Murphy.
Carefully manoeuvring through the asteroid belt and seeing Earth race to meet them greatly comforted the Commodore. Despite never having lived on Earth, records told of the beauty of London, New York, Shanghai and others. Joseph’s ancestors had lived a comfortable life two centuries ago in a small urban settlement with the few worries concerning a missed dentist appointment or late assignments.
All that had changed when the apocalypse came.
The survivors had written of how the planet was consumed with terror as the meteors came screaming towards Earth, overloaded with radioactive material. Most had escaped in the huge Saviour ships, but any who had remained were surely dead. This was not intended as a rescue mission, more a reclamation mission. Scientists had provided the startling information that after just two hundred years, very little radioactivity remained and Planet Earth was once again safe for occupation.
On the outskirts of the system an Autha Undrux trade ship patrolled watching from a wary distance. Behind Murphy’s flagship flew the Director’s personal shuttle, a Kallikrate shuttle ship accompanied by three other Dyna class destroyers, the largest in the Commodore’s arsenal. Alongside them were fifteen Cavalry light support ships to provide defence for the three huge Saviour ships plodding along. Refitted with a Glyuray engine and carrying over two million passengers each, it seemed fitting to return to Earth with the ships that had been humanities god send.
Murphy broadcast on an open channel so all would hear his speech.
“This will be a day long remembered and placed into the Confirmed Records. Today we return to our home planet to inhabit it once again. We left in terror and now we return. It will commemorate human determination to accept nothing less than absolute perfection. Whilst we will colonise this world, a large memorial museum will be erected to remind everyone why we left in the first place. It will read the names of the few Saviour ships who were lost among our travels and encourage us to bind together stronger as a race”
A polite smattering of applause came over the static. A different voice came over the transmission, Emperor Charles Acelin on the Kallikrate with the Director. His plump face appeared on the screen and his wrinkles were invisible after careful make up applied by his attendees, not a black hair out of place, no smudge on his beautifully carved crystalline glasses.
“I would like to thank the Undrux Empire for kindly donating their materials towards a crystal palace that will be erected for my daughter to oversee what I hope will again be a thriving vision of humanity.”
A young twenty year old woman with slick black hair in a ponytail appeared on the projection next to Acelin. Dressed in similar luxurious robes, a dark green. She was a thin but active woman. Joseph had met her only a few times at the odd formal party, but already had caught Belinda’s eye.
“With their contribution we can truly remember those who had fallen two hundred years ago.”
While the passengers cheered and applauded for their beloved Emperor, not a sound echoed from Captain Cask aboard the Autha. Arrogant snobs Murphy thought. They had to be pushed to help an ally during an emotional period for its people. He had never liked their race. Plump, grey skinned and always focused on money and materialism, Murphy related them to rats.
“And now Commodore would you like to start the occupation?” Acelin requested.
“My pleasure sire. Advance.” Murphy commanded.
With a flurry of activity, the escort surged forward towards the planet. Loud cheers erupted from the three huge Saviours and even from some of his warliners. Even from a distance, the blue planet seemed to glimmer with hope. When they would pass the Moon, they would see many of the thick craters splattered across their ancestor’s home. But until that moment, Murphy thought, let them celebrate. They deserved it. The whole trip in general had been rife with worry with such problems as the climate and the chance of another strike from the deadly asteroids but a Dyna destroyer and five Cavalry support ships would linger in orbit along with the goliath transport ships for several years until Earth became a satisfactory self sufficient colony.
The Emperor himself would christen the HAC (Homosapien Allied Community) globe that would be placed outside of the crystal palace, and broadcast on a loop a message that was to alert ships they were entering HAC space.
As Murphy’s personal Dyna, Matilda, approached Mars the marine closest to the thick glass shouted to Joseph.
“Commodore, incoming ship of unknown origin. Starboard.”
“Starboard” he shouted.
The ship swung sharply to the right to face the mysterious shuttle. It shot dangerously close to the bridge’s face but immediately stopped only a meter from impact
“Demand for it to identify itself”
“I can’t sir, it’s blocking my transmissions. Would you like to open fire?”
The crews and passengers of all twenty three ships left their posts and stared at the tiny ship wondering what the head of the AHD (Armed Humanitarian Defence) would do next. Before Joseph could give his command, the shuttle shot away at the same speed and left the system. He stared at the spot where it had disappeared for a few seconds but then turned away and faced the marine.
“Did you scan it?”
“The scanners couldn't pick up anything.”
“It must be an anomaly. Ignore it. Proceed with the plan as usual.”
“Yes Commodore.”
And with that the group continued to Earth without a second thought.
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