Eternity RPC Board
02-19-2017, 02:46 AM
Haven Station
Luna orbit
August 12, 2349
In the course of human events there are certain events which signal the beginning of a new era of history and great change. The development of agriculture turned man from a nomadic hunter-gatherer into a settled farmer. The discovery of the New World led to the creation of vast colonial empires and gathered the resources of the wider world into the hands of a few. The detonation of the atomic bomb marked the beginning of a time where the entire human population could be wiped out a matter of hours over the pettiest of disputes, and the whole world knew it. In 2349, a new era would begin; an era where humanity could explore the stars-not merely with probes and telescopes, but with starships! The possibilities were, quite literally, nearly limitless. Those who there in the beginning, making the first great leaps, would be remembered forever, like the names of Columbus and Oppenheimer.
Lieutenant Commander John Welch was aboard Haven Station in Luna orbit, the headquarters of the UN Space Navy. It also served as a repair yard and resupply depot. His ship, the UNS Beauregard, was in for a refit. It allowed his crew to get some much-needed R&R. Many traveled back to Earth to visit family and friends. Welch, however, was stuck on Haven Station. He didn’t have much to do while his ship was in the yard, so that left him a lot of time to think. His thoughts quickly turned to his own future. Although he dearly loved the Beauregard, he had at its helm for too long. He’d had command of the ship since the Yegorov conflict. It was a good ship, but it was a corvette, the smallest of rated warships. He feared that someone near the top was stopping his climb, leaving him to drift into irrelevance.
At some point he received a message on his personal communicator (“com”) to report to the Office of Personnel later that afternoon. This wasn’t too unusual, so Welch didn’t think much of it. It was probably to discuss replacements and transfers. A few of his crew’s enlistments were up. When he arrived, he was surprised to walk in to find an admiral waiting for him. Without hesitation, he snapped to attention and saluted. “Admiral, sir! Reporting to the Office of Personnel as ordered, sir!”
“At ease, Lieutenant Commander. Have a seat.” After he was seated, the admiral said, “My name is Admiral Jan Hauser. I am the head of Deep Space Patrol. Don’t worry too much if you haven’t heard of it, it was only created last month and the news of its creation has been kept confidential for now. I am here to offer you an opportunity.
“Two years ago, Dr. Jarol Lynis, director of the classified Columbus Project being carried out on the Eris Research Station, discovered how to conduct faster-than-light ‘jumps’ to other star systems. By the end of this year, we plan to send a manned vessel through the Laumer Point near Eris to the Alpha Centauri System to begin exploration of the galaxy. We want you to be on that crew.”
The admiral stopped speaking and looked at Welch for a reply. Welch realized his mouth was agape, so he closed it quickly and swallowed. This was all very sudden. Did he say Alpha Centauri? Welch quickly got over his surprise as he thought about the implications of his answer, not just for his career but for humanity. It dawned on him the momentousness of the opportunity. “I would be honored, sir,” he finally answered.
“Good,” the admiral smiled. “I’m glad to hear it, otherwise the spooks would have had to mind-scrub you.”
Welch laughed, but he stopped when he saw the admiral was not laughing. “Ah, what position would I hold on the crew?”
“You would be the executive officer.”
“Who is the captain?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” The admiral smiled again. “I’ll send the rest of your orders to your com, as well as some information about the crew that we have assembled so far. I will stress that all of this information is to be kept to yourself, under the penalty of the law. If you let this slip to anyone, you can’t yet imagine the shit heap you will find yourself in.”
“Yes, sir.”
Luna orbit
August 12, 2349
In the course of human events there are certain events which signal the beginning of a new era of history and great change. The development of agriculture turned man from a nomadic hunter-gatherer into a settled farmer. The discovery of the New World led to the creation of vast colonial empires and gathered the resources of the wider world into the hands of a few. The detonation of the atomic bomb marked the beginning of a time where the entire human population could be wiped out a matter of hours over the pettiest of disputes, and the whole world knew it. In 2349, a new era would begin; an era where humanity could explore the stars-not merely with probes and telescopes, but with starships! The possibilities were, quite literally, nearly limitless. Those who there in the beginning, making the first great leaps, would be remembered forever, like the names of Columbus and Oppenheimer.
Lieutenant Commander John Welch was aboard Haven Station in Luna orbit, the headquarters of the UN Space Navy. It also served as a repair yard and resupply depot. His ship, the UNS Beauregard, was in for a refit. It allowed his crew to get some much-needed R&R. Many traveled back to Earth to visit family and friends. Welch, however, was stuck on Haven Station. He didn’t have much to do while his ship was in the yard, so that left him a lot of time to think. His thoughts quickly turned to his own future. Although he dearly loved the Beauregard, he had at its helm for too long. He’d had command of the ship since the Yegorov conflict. It was a good ship, but it was a corvette, the smallest of rated warships. He feared that someone near the top was stopping his climb, leaving him to drift into irrelevance.
At some point he received a message on his personal communicator (“com”) to report to the Office of Personnel later that afternoon. This wasn’t too unusual, so Welch didn’t think much of it. It was probably to discuss replacements and transfers. A few of his crew’s enlistments were up. When he arrived, he was surprised to walk in to find an admiral waiting for him. Without hesitation, he snapped to attention and saluted. “Admiral, sir! Reporting to the Office of Personnel as ordered, sir!”
“At ease, Lieutenant Commander. Have a seat.” After he was seated, the admiral said, “My name is Admiral Jan Hauser. I am the head of Deep Space Patrol. Don’t worry too much if you haven’t heard of it, it was only created last month and the news of its creation has been kept confidential for now. I am here to offer you an opportunity.
“Two years ago, Dr. Jarol Lynis, director of the classified Columbus Project being carried out on the Eris Research Station, discovered how to conduct faster-than-light ‘jumps’ to other star systems. By the end of this year, we plan to send a manned vessel through the Laumer Point near Eris to the Alpha Centauri System to begin exploration of the galaxy. We want you to be on that crew.”
The admiral stopped speaking and looked at Welch for a reply. Welch realized his mouth was agape, so he closed it quickly and swallowed. This was all very sudden. Did he say Alpha Centauri? Welch quickly got over his surprise as he thought about the implications of his answer, not just for his career but for humanity. It dawned on him the momentousness of the opportunity. “I would be honored, sir,” he finally answered.
“Good,” the admiral smiled. “I’m glad to hear it, otherwise the spooks would have had to mind-scrub you.”
Welch laughed, but he stopped when he saw the admiral was not laughing. “Ah, what position would I hold on the crew?”
“You would be the executive officer.”
“Who is the captain?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.” The admiral smiled again. “I’ll send the rest of your orders to your com, as well as some information about the crew that we have assembled so far. I will stress that all of this information is to be kept to yourself, under the penalty of the law. If you let this slip to anyone, you can’t yet imagine the shit heap you will find yourself in.”
“Yes, sir.”