CHAPTER 1

As our story unfolds, we examine the minds of two distinguished military leaders, Commander Donald (Scorpion) Speaker and Captain Michael (Hotshot) Dolan.

(A voice from the void)

Ya know what I mean, right ?
... Mikey ????
... Are you there ?

(But answer, there was none...)
------------------------------------------------------------
(Up with '2001, A Space Odyssey' music)

Dum, dum, Dum, dum, Dum, dum, Duuuuummmmm...

Somewhere, far out in space, is a slowly spinning chunk of rock. Cold and isolated in the loneliness with no atmosphere - the stars are bright pinpoints of eternal light. Slowly a ship approaches. Short and squat, an asteroid miner by its looks, small breaking jet fire bringing the ship into alignment with a large crater on the surface. A light appears as a door opens in the center of the depression. A docking bay. Gently the ship moves forward towards the opening. The pilot brings the craft to rest relative to the landing cradle and releases the locking clamps. Down suddenly has meaning again. The door to the docking bay closes shutting out the darkness. Inside the ship, Commander Speaker turns to Captain Dolan and offers a warm lift of his eyebrows... They're home.

"Well done Captain! You still have the touch. I am always amazed at how you can bring this old tub in and drop her in the cradle. It always reminds me of watching you drop the nine ball in the corner pocket. Such a touch!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Commander. But, that's the last time I'll attend the Ceres Galactic Convention without my own stick!. Wow!! It's sure good to be home. Wonder how the ladies are doing?"

(echos from the cavern...)

Mikey... Mikey, are you there??

Whaaatt.... Oh, Hi Don! Just sort of drifted off there, hehh, hehhh!!

In the beginning...

As a result of a four year effort by two wacky members of the United Space Federations Galactic Space Navy sometimes known as Captain Hotshot and Commander Scorpion, we are pleased to share the results of a sometimes rocky collaboration. We welcome your comments and thoughts and perhaps even improvements as we share our adventures.

Tonight we return to the beginning, which as everyone knows, can sometimes be the ending. After all there is Oroborus...

OUT OF THE BLACK AND INTO THE BLUE
A true story of Heroism and Madness


The Beginning
(intercepted from another source… somewhere in deep space)
General StellarCom Newscast, Tuesday, 10 June 2228

"...and also tonight, the growing dissatisfaction against Empress Maud has taken a radical turn. It seems that some of the Third Fleet vessels loyal to Prime Minister Jaro have defected and are hiding somewhere in hyperspace. It is not fully known which vessels have defected, or what the rebels' next move will be. The authorities are waiting for more information. Meanwhile, the growing unrest in sector 115..."

The ship dropped out of hyperspace, and headed towards the space station. The words 'Templar Knight' could be seen painted across her hull in the space where 'Galactic Co-operative Starship' should have been.

"GCS Tracer, this is Mars Orbital Spacedocks. We have you on radar, prepare to surrender control of your vessel to our computers. Please confirm."

Static issued from the speaker; a visual channel to the incoming ship could not be raised.
"Do you think she's in trouble, sir?" asked a technician, watching the slowly approaching ship.
"I'm not sure... send out the Shark, to see if she's damaged or has been in battle. That might give us a clue..."

"Yes, sir," replied the technician.

"And try hailing her again-" the Spacedock Supervisor began, when the console in front of him exploded in sparks.

The Tracer suddenly opened fire, first on the Shark as it moved toward her, then on the spacedocks, hitting the forward Observation Dome and Command Centre at almost point blank range. The response was immediate; wave after wave of laser fire from the space station hammered into the ship. The guns on the ship turned in response to target the fighters rapidly exiting the station's damaged hangers, but the fighters were too late. The Tracer's engines were at maximum thrust, and the remainder of the ship - most of the engineering section and power core - plowed into the station in a flash of brilliant white.

The civil war had begun.

Some comments from those involved...

Richard Ford, speaking posthumously from a message capsule which was retrieved after the battle. The recording was somewhat corrupted.

"...on't know if it will, but hah, you never know. Anywa... urne, so that's that sorted. Apart from that though, it's basically a case of dog eat dog, and if you can't... ay out of the kitchen, or something. My grandad used to say stuff like that. Guess I picked it up. Um, if anyone gets this, could you pass the following message to Joan Ma..." [This snippet is all that survived intact – Captain Hotshot, Galactic Navy Intelligence]

And so our story begins as Captain Hotshot and Commander Scorpion are once again called upon to go underground as they search out intelligence in the war against the empire...

Next week - Chapter 1