Deep Space (open)

The gunfire erupted all around him, plasma turning the ground to cracked glass as he sprinted through the forest. He didn’t slow down instead willing and pushing his body to the extreme as he tried to outrun the hostile fire. The trees of the Androsia forest flew by him the natural beauty warping from the harsh fire it was coming under. The man reflected on it sadly for a few seconds before pushing it back in his mind and focusing instead on reaching his target.

The men currently shooting at him

Said soldiers exchanged startled looks watching as he appeared out of the smoke and fire like a demon. They continued firing at him arcs of plasma shooting and grazing him as he cleared the forest line and catapulted at them. He hit the nearest one first ripping the gun out of his hand before sending a bolt of plasma into the soldiers face, as the body fell he quickly and expertly shot down the rest of the squadron dispatching them in seconds.

The man took a second to catch his breath spitting out some blood and wincing as some of his burns took effect. His hands went up fumbling at the seals of his helmet for a few seconds before he found the button he wanted. There was a faint hiss as it decoupled with his armored suit and he pulled it off revealing a handsome tan face.

“Commander Mayax calling in to command” The man said activating his throat mic “I have reached the village and encountered enemy resistance how copy?”

He waited for a few seconds before swearing and trying again moving towards the crest of the ridge. No matter how hard he tried he got nothing but static which was sadly typical. He had been alone in the field for days know trying to reach the village and protect it before the enemy did a recent meteor storm and hard fighting up in orbit made communications with his attached ship Seegson all but impossible.

Leaving it up to him to complete the mission

He reached the top of the cliff preparing him self for a long climb down to the village. The cliff overlooked the valley the village was nestled in and he could see the smoke and fire rising from the-

“No” He said his eyes widening as he took in the view before him

The view of a village burning to the ground
“Wake up commander!”

Xander Mayax groaned reaching out blindly in the direction of his personal AI Samantha and giving her the finger.

“I gave you an extra five minutes” The AI huffed clearly annoyed “get up or you’ll be AWOL!”

“You’re a bitch” Xander murmured slowly opening his eyes, he rose out of bed watching as the windows to his apartment unpolarized giving him a breath taking view of Fleet Wood City. Hover cars zipped around his window battling the morning traffic as they moved around the city/space station. Xander took in the view for a few minutes before he finally turned in Samantha’s direction. The AI arms were crossed her beautiful face an expression of annoyance as she tapped her heels impatiently, she was stunning as always today in a ice blue dress that complemented her figure.

“Your injections are due in two minutes” She reminded him her voice taking on a clipped tone “or are you planning on dying today?”

“No such luck” Xander replied noticing the warning flashing on his chest “Where would my ship be without it’s captain?”

He got up wincing as his phantom limb groaned in protest, he idly reached down scratching at his left leg as he limped to the bathroom. Instead of warm skin he felt the cool metallic touch that once again reminded him of what he lost. The trick made the phantom pain go away though not the emotional pain but Xander was good at pushing away the emotional pain.

It was what his parents trained him to do

He reached the bathroom, the lights warming up to his specified taste and grabbed the auto injector. He winced noticing the black lines appearing out of his black boxer briefs and snaking up his hips.

“I keep telling you to manage your injections better” Samantha said her sultry voice appearing in his ear “Prolonged exposure-“

“Will lead to my death” Xander shot out before she could finish “Just give me a second will ya?”

He reached down activating the access panel in his mechanical leg. The injection port slid out and he quickly pushed the needle in wincing as he injected the nanite solution directly into what was left of his left leg. The solution went into his blood stream quickly rushing through him like a thousand tiny burning ants. The black lines began to fade disappearing as if they had never been there to begin with.

“Bio signs reading normal” Samantha said her voice relieved

“Great” Xander said dryly looking in the mirror starring at the burn marks covering his face

“Just great”

…………………….

Five minutes later

Xander stepped out pulling on his black and red jacket and shrugging it over his black shirt, he touched the golden insignia over his right breast before reaching over and grabbing the black headscarf. He wrapped it quickly and effectively moving the band back and forth until only his eyes and mouth were uncovered. He gave it a once over to make sure it was secure before grabbing his olive duffel bag and moving to the door of his apartment.

“Good bye” He said out loud swinging the bag over his shoulders, he turned on his heels and in seconds he was out of the apartment and onto the steel walkways of Fleet Wood City. The once large moon was now a hollowed out starport/city filled with a thousand people and a multitude of species. After the “Great War” species who had spent centuries fighting with one another were finally mingling talking and co-existing. Ever since President Sierra and the Princess of Swarms negotiated the truce the universe was one of peace not one of war, centuries of conflict and pain and fire were replaced with a bright new hope.

Xander looked out on the city trying to come to terms with his new reality. For him war was all he knew, war and hate. What was his exile worth now that the war was over? He could never go back to his home or see his family, back then he had been okay eager even to join the war and help fight the enemy.

It had cost him dearly

“Commander” Samantha’s voice crackled in his ears breaking him out of his thoughts “If you don’t get a move on you’ll be in a lot of trouble”

Zander sighed and shouldered his bag making his way across the catwalks and towards the transit system. She was right, as always he was due in the spaceport in thirty minutes or so and not a second later. The rail car would get him there as long as he didn’t waste any time. He followed the crowds ignoring the excited chatter about todays launch, he boarded the trains with the others and in seconds he was off zipping towards the newly minted base.

………………………..

Xander stepped through the sliding doors and into the newly minted United Species Exploration base. He scowled at the bases grand design and continued resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Ever since the great war had ended the newly formed council of species poured every bit they had into getting this building up and running so it would stand as a testament to the peace so hard fought.

Or at least some thing like that

Xander walked up to the ensign on deck a fresh faced human who’s eyes rose up in surprise. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead brought out his identification and papers wanting to get this over as quickly as possible.

“Commander Xander reporting for duty” Xander said hoping beyond hope this would be fast.

“I know who you are!” The fresh faced ensign said before blushing “I mean of course commander seems silly to check you identification whe-“

“Silly?” Xander said narrowing his eyes “I’m just a regular commander
Ensign and security is paramount to effectiveness”

“Of course” The Ensign sputtered blushing even more “It’s just after your…….” He trailed off noticing the commanders eyes narrowing even more.

“Never mind” He murmured swiping the card and handing it back to him “welcome aboard commander Xander your orders are to report to the Aquilla on Deck B”

“Much better Ensign” Xander said taking the card back and returning his salute. He turned and in seconds he was through the doors and into the sub orbital elevator.

“What was that about?” The guard said coming up to the Ensign “what’s with the dude in the headscarf?”

“Do you not now any thing?” The Ensign said snorting “That’s commander Xander he’s a Marksan you know highly trained warrior assassins who pledge allegiance to no army? When he joined the Tera Nova army in the Great War his people exiled him now he has to wear the headscarf as punishment”

………….

Xander felt the elevator grind to a halt clutching at the bar for support, there was a faint click as the docking clamps aligned and locked in before the elevator gave a soft beep and slid open. Docking bay B stretched out before him the freshly shined floor gleaming and contrasting against the large windows showing the glittering orbit outside.

“The Aquilla is in view to your left commander” Samantha spoke

“I see her” Xander murmured going over to the window to get a better look. The Aquilla hung in front of him like a fat ugly rectangle, it was one of the older super carrier originally designed to launch surface and orbital ships into battle at a moments notice. Originally the heart of any battle fleet in an effort for peace time the massive battle platform had been refurbished and updated going from battle fleet to cutting edge research, science, and tactical platform capable of carrying out a wide variety of research and exploration missions indefinitely.

Three years in fact

Xander watched some of the soldiers and maintenance workers boarding his ship for a few moments, these were the men, woman, and species he would spend the next three years commanding and being with. The flagship was the first to go out and the pressure was on for the council to make it as much of a diplomatic success as possible. Every one was hand picked and every species that made up the council both major and minor had a part to play on it with a decorated and highly public commander at the helm as well.

He scowled at that thought shaking his head as he joined the crowds of people moving into the ships quarterdeck one of the reasons he requested this detail was to get away from the public’s light for a few years. The war was to glamorized there for his taste with no one really knowing what was lost and how many had died. He saw flashes of the fire and smoke from the village and he winced pinching the bridge of his nose and trying to push the images back.

“Are you okay commander?” Samantha asked in concern “your bio’s are spiking”

“I’m fine” He hissed “do you have the schematics of the ship loaded to my H.U.D yet?”

Samantha made a voice as if she wanted to argue before she sighed and brought the ship schematics up on his digital iris. He ran over the schematics for a few minutes before locating his quarters near the aft of the ship. He moved past the mess of people getting settled and kept his head down trying not to draw any attention to himself as he stepped out of the quarterdeck and into the pristine white hallways covered with blue wiring and coolant a few last minute repairs were being done but other than that the deck was freshly painted and shined. The corridor was a bright white contrasting loudly with the electric blue wiring and matching coolant pipes doting each wall.

“It looks nice” Xander murmured nodding at some of the technicians “Make sure you finish up or else you’ll find your self on a here year deep space mission”

“Yes Commander” They said saluting him before moving more quickly

“Commander!”

Xander turned noticing a Volar running up in the crisp white uniform with a blue stripe marking him as a steward. The crisp white uniform contrasted sharply against his shimmering multi colored body.

“Are you my steward?” Xander asked breathing a sigh of relief that his steward was a species from the allied forces.

“Yesssss ssssssir” The Volar said drawing out each S “Lieutenant sssssssyria reporting for duty”

“Great” Xander said being careful not to clap the Volar’s hand, they were well known for the energy discharge their cosmic bodies gave out. It wasn’t capable of killing him but it could do serious harm if given the chance.

“I’d like for you to find my first mate and have them sent to my office” Xander said switching into business mode “I want to meet them and get our plan of attack down before we ship out”

“Yessssss sssssssir” Syria said nodding rapidly before turning and disappearing in a bright flash.

“Fucking A” Xander said rubbing his eyes “Remind me to polarize my lens whenever he’s around”

“Roger”

Xander snorted at Samantha’s faux military voice and stepped inside of his office. He took in the opulent wood paneling, gold finish, and walls of awards and pictures and outwardly groaned. He was a soldier god damn it! Not some luxurious admiral who needed all these things to be comfortable.

“You know my rooms going to be just like this” Xander murmured to Samantha sighing and dropping his bag to the floor.

“You know three years is a long time commander” Samantha reminded him “Why not have a little luxury”

“Makes me look weak” Xander said thinking back to his home planet a harsh practically inhospitable place. There was no such thing as luxury there you either survived or died it was as simple as that.

He missed it more than he could have ever thought

Xander sat down at his desk leaning back for a second before starting on the paperwork killing time until his second in command came in.