Fallen From Glory
Chapter 1
Inside the confines of a well built mansion on a planet that’s clearly not earth, a discussion seems to be taking place. Zooming past the walls on the mansion then brings up the inside of an office where stands a statuesque Anthropomorphic Raven male, with dark black feathers covering his body and dark green eyes looking at his bottle of wine; wearing a few rings and other bits of jewelry and a well tailored three piece suit. Currently talking to a few of his associates while drinking a glass of wine he looks over as one man, a human, says to the bird as he sets down his glass,
“the plans we talked about during the last meeting are well underway, I’ve placed an order for five new freighters from the *Saana-Corago Shipyards* and I’ve begun interviewing potential captains and crews for said ships.”
The Raven man nods saying as he looks at a holographic log he was handed by the man in question,
“very good, I’m trusting that you’ll pick only the best for the jobs. Now on to other matters, Joseph have you been working on the escort ships that we’ll need for next weeks big job?”
A stout bulldog anthromorph nods stepping forward and handing the bird another holographic log saying,
“I have indeed, I got in touch with a mercenary group, they said they’d spare five ships for the escort job for twenty thousand.”
The Raven nods and asks as he goes through the contract on the holographic screen,
“and you trust these people are trustworthy? The cargo on that ship is worth fifty billion after all.”
The bulldog nods then saying,
“ I trust them completely, I’ve had dealings with them before, I completely doubt they’d betray us, we’re one of their biggest clients after all.”
The bird nods then thinking for a moment, signs his name on the bottom of the holo screen and says,
“alright, tell him the five ships will be good and we’ll pay them what they asked but do ask them if they could spare a few more ship, we can’t lose that cargo.”
The bulldog nods then pockets the *hololog*. Afterwards the small group goes on discussing a few more things on their agenda before leaving. Once done with his meeting the bird loosens his tie a little and pours himself another glass of wine before leaving his office being greeted at the door by one of his maids, a young human girl who says with a bow,
“Sir, dinner is ready in the dining room.”
He nods, thanks her, then leaves to the dining room in question where once inside he is greeted by a very young bird of his breed, the young raven saying as she wrapped her arms around his waist,
“Daddy, how did your meeting go?”
He nods and ruffles the sleek black feathers on her head before saying,
“It went just fine my dear, only a few things I had to take care of nothing serious.”
She gives a small smile then takes his hand, her father asking as she did,
“so sweetheart, what are we having for dinner tonight?”
She says as she pulls him up to a very elegant table, and placing a plate in front on him,
“well the chief made some stuffed Raviolis, and I made the salad.”
She grins ear to ear as she puts a large salad on his plate then dressing it with some home made ranch dressing. Picking up a fork, her father says before taking a bite,
“ah, I always love your salads sweetheart.”
Watching her father take a bite the young girl glows with happiness then joining him for dinner.
~some time later~
Having finished dinner and having put his daughter to bed, the middle aged raven retires to his bedroom, reading a book about the politics of business, however all is not quiet for long. Moments after turning a page something hits his window from the outside and as the glass shatters smoke fills the room. Having only moments to react the bird jumps from his chair, knives sticking to the cushion only seconds after. Looking through the smoke he sees a figure, clad in black with its face wrapped. Balling up his feather clad fist the bird says to his assailant,
“don’t know who you are or why you’re hear but you pick the wrong person, I started a freighter captain, if its one thing I learned its how to fight.”
Throwing a punch, he catches his attacker in the left side the head, the figure then grabbing another knife from under its clothes, the resulting fight last for a few minutes till the bird is able to disarm his attacker, then hearing guards from outside the figure then runs dashing out of the very window it came from. The danger now past the bird stumbles backwards and is caught by one of his guards.
~on board a the Gun Singer~
Under the dim lights of his quarters lays Captain Cornelius Rikket, the large leopard laying across his bed lightly sleeping. With the typical markings and fur colorings of a regular leopard, currently asleep, he is wearing only a long pair of black cargo pants and a golden locket hanging around his neck on a golden chain. Looking at his brow, a long scar can be seen running from the top left side of his nose and over his right brow. He resumes his restful slumber till a com device next to his bed chirps and a voice says,
“captain, you’ve got a call on subspace.”
The large cat rubs his hand on his face before saying, only half awake,
“alright, I’ll get it in a moment.”
The com chirps off and slowly but surely the large cat gets out of bed and stretches into a loud yawn, then slipping a loose fitting gray t-shirt then approaches a screen on the wall tapping it and once it lights up he then says,
“access incoming subspace call”
The device chirps a few times before connecting, projecting an image of the Raven from before. Rikket says recognizing the bird in question,
“Nicky, to what do I owe the honors old friend?”
The bird says nodding to the cat,
“Ricky, it has been some time hasn’t it, I still owe you a drink for helping me get my first freighter don’t I?”
The cat laughs then asks,
“So what can I do for the founder of the second biggest trading guild eh?”
The bird hiding a tone of worry says,
“Well I’m going on vacation with my daughter, I was hoping I could hire you and your ship for the job.”
Rubbing the back of his head the cat asks,
“You want to hire a lone mercenary ship to take you on vacation? Why not contract a travel service, I’m pretty sure they could put you up a lot better then the me and the gun singer could.”
The bird says with a nod,
“That they could, but I trust you more then they.”
Lifting his left eyebrow at the birds last comment the cat then asks,
“Alright if you insist, what’s the job pay?”
The bird says clicking something from his side of the call resulting in the hololog in Rikket’s pocket to beep. Opening the device length wise he checks it reading a pending incoming payment from the bird in question, totaling ninety grand. Rikket gives a sharp whistle the bird then says,
“I hope that will be enough to hire your services, you’re the only one I’d trust this job to Rick, can I count on you?”
The cat nods signing for the payment on his log then saying: once again noting just how the bird choose to word his statement,
“Alright, you’ve got me Nick, I’ll escort you and your daughter where ever it is you’ve got planned to go. Now where should we pick you up?”
The bird nods then says,
“I’ve made arrangements to get us to the Vermay star base in orbit of the third planet in Vermay star system, you can pick us up their?”
The cat nods saying,
“Sure we can be their by lunch time tomorrow.”
With that both men say their goodbyes and then close the line the screen resuming its previous standby mode, displaying the wording, ‘Gun Singer, captains quarters’ Rikket then walking over to the com device he left on his bedside table, and clicking it on he says,
“Rugger, get the warp drive ready for activation.”
A voice calls from the other side saying,
“Right, it’ll be ready in five minutes.”
Rikket then goes on to say,
“Maiyumi, plug in the cords for the Vermay star system, once the warp drive is ready, you’re free to jump.”
A young voice responds from the other side,
“Right captain”
Turning his com device into standby mode he sets it back down on the table, then laying back down in his bed he tries to go back to sleep but is interrupted someone saying through the com device,
“Captain may I remind you, that your shift is in about an hour I’d advise you not to go back to sleep, perhaps get some food before you come to the bridge.”
Clicking off his com device the cat mumbles,
“killjoy”
Sitting up once again he pockets his com device then after a few moments of dressing and tidying himself up he leaves the room now wearing a brown leather jacket over his gray shirt which is now slightly tucked into his pants. Taking out his com device once more he activates it a the com system on within the ship itself turning on, he then says,
“Seniors officers report to the battle room.”
~a short time later~
Walking into a room containing a large holographic star map comes Rikket, looking at the four people, a white tiger anthromorph the only one wearing anything resembling a uniform. In very good shape the young cat wearing a dark blue uniform like suit, complete with light weight skirmish armor, looking up from a report he was reading as the captain walked in showing off pair of crystal blue eyes and hair done up marine style. A large snapping turtle anthromorph standing in the corner of the room looks up to the captain as he enters, wearing his shell mainly but also a tool belt around his waist full of odds and ends and what seems be a bit of light weight armor. what little hair he has which is starting to gray he has pulled back into a ponytail. A human female and a Bastinion female both of whom are armed with rifles and light weight battle armor the Bastinion girl also having a pair of high tech night vision goggles pulled up on the top of her head and a large sword strung on her back and the human girl packing more weapons of all types then you could shake a blaster at, her short black hair neatly brushed and dark blue eyes watching the captain walking up to the large star map projector. The group looks up as the cat walks in and sets his hololog down on the table, then saying,
“alright ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got a job, we’ll be taking on a pair of VIPs around lunch time today for an escort.”
Pointing to the human and the bastinion he says,
“Jessica, I want you and Amy armed at all times, from how he sounded when he contacted me I think we can expect some trouble, I don’t know what kind of trouble so be ready for anything.”
The two females nod, rising a question from the other large cat in the room, his first officer stepping up to the table and asking,
“And who are our VIPs captain?”
Rikket types on the display for the star map bringing up an image of the raven that had called him last night, saying,
“Nickolas Nevermore, leader and founder of the Lucky Raven Trading Guild, from what he’s told me he and his daughter are going on vacation and he wants us to take them there.”
The Turtle steps up and says a little aggravated,
“You want us to baby sit a pair of rich snobs? Pass!”
Rikket then displays the contract including the payment to which everyone whistles at, the turtle then saying,
“forget I said anything”
His first officer then asks reading the contract, its a standard VIP escort contract lining out terms and conditions and noting the fact that he already paid and in full,
“Instead of hiring a travel service he’d shell out ninety grand to hire an heavily armed battle cruiser? What’s up captain?”
The cat says returning the holo-screen back to the star map and says,
“I don’t know he didn’t give me any details other then he’s bringing himself and his daughter on board, and that we’re the ‘only’ ones he could trust to do the job.”
Everyone looks around the room Rikket then nodding and saying,
“That’s what I thought too, be ready for anything, Tigger when they get on board see to whatever they need or want, they‘ll be in your paws. Jessica and Amy, keep the combat teams ready and armed at all times both defense crew and the boarding crew just in case.”
The two females nod along with Tyler, Rikket then asking,
“Any more questions?”
The rest shake their heads no, Rikket then saying,
“Alright then dismissed.”
The group quickly leaves the room to go back to where ever they needed to be, leaving Tyler who then follows Rikket for a few moments as he headed for the bridge asking,
“Rich trade guild founder hires us and not a fancy travel service? What do you thinks going on captain?”
He shakes his head then says,
“No clue, we’ll just have to be ready for whatever comes our way, anyway, go get some rest I’ll take over the bridge for now, however be ready by lunch time we’ll meet them together.”
The younger cat nods turning around and walking the other way. Moments later Rikket walks into the bridge a few members of the crew working on different displays and consoles around the room, and at the helm sits a cute and very young red fox panda anthromorph wearing a light gray flight suit that tends to hug her supple frame a little to snugly at times. A pair of white dots in her fur sitting symmetrically on both sides of her face just above the inner side of her left and right eyes, just under her nearly kept eyebrows capped of by the fur on her head which she normally keeps clean and neat. Sitting their where her poofy red and black stripped tail wrapping around her chair she works away at her console readying for the upcoming warp jump till Rikket walks up setting his hand on her shoulder as he asks,
“How’s the warp drive preparations coming along?”
She looks up to him and smiles saying,
“Just fine, should be ready to jump in moments captain.”
The cat nods then walks a little ways toward the center of the bridge and takes a seat in what’s clearly the captain’s chair. No more then a second later the com chirps on with a young human male saying,
“Hey captain, warp drives ready to go and. . .”
There are some shouting before Rugger can be clearly heard shouting,
“Hey get away from that brat! Chief Engineer makes announcements”
The young human then says in response,
“What can I say Snappy you weren’t here”
As a fight ensues, Rikket face palms then shouts,
“Will you two STOP IT ALREADY!”
There is silence for a few moments till the human responds,
“Hey Snappy here started it, anyway we’re ready down here captain.”
Rikket closes the com then looking toward his pilot, the young panda says,
“Ready to go at your word captain”
Rikket nods and responds
“Alright lets go”
She nods and starts typing on her console then saying as she opens a ship wide com calling everyone to attention with the classic ship whistle,
“Attention all hands, please prepare for a warp jump.”
After a few moments someone on the bridge states
“All decks reporting ready sir”
He nods then watches as the young girl at the helm beings the warp jump systems online Captain Rikket then saying aloud,
“Set course for Vermay Star System”
The young pilot presses a few buttons and then the ships jumps into warp space, on their way toward their next job.
~End of chapter
*author notes*
The Saana-Corago shipyards
Pronounced: San nan core go
This largest shipyard within Solar Core Alliance space, this massive facility caters to the ship construction needs of its galaxy. Contracted for the ship building needs of private interest, public or governments contracts, corporate contracts, and sometimes even military contracts. Founded by a man by the name of James Salvatore this shipyard is well known for the quality of its ships
The Hololog
pronounced: as written
a standard and widely used device, based off of the hand held computing devices from long ago, these devices are used in nearly everyone's daily lives. Used to write with, work on, send both subspace and planetary mail, or even to record on, this little device helps nearly everyone and with a multitude of installable modification programs it can adapt to fill almost any kind of need. Invented by a man named Michael Philips at the turn of the century it features a solid yet holographic screen emitted from two thin plasteel rods. its average power supply last for seventy two hours without recharging and when folded is little bigger then pencil
