Tommy Thorn Marked (6 page)

The Kallderian paid no attention to the Tarchein general. Instead he turned to Remus and held both hands high in the air, as was their custom. “Greetings, brother.”

Remus returned the gesture, his hands barely reaching the Kallderian’s nose, and smiled broadly. “Greetings, brother.”

“Sir, please forgive me, but I believe your young protégé may be wearing an inappropriate collar tab,” the Kallderian said while pointing at the red tab attached to one side of Tommy’s high stiff collar.

Remus smiled and puffed his chest out just a bit. “No mistake—he is a Tarchein.”

All cadets wore a pair of colored tabs on the collar of their jacket. The left was the symbol of the Imperial Star Force; the other represented the cadet’s race or system of origin. Because Tommy was legally the son of Remus, he was therefore Tarchein, subject to all the rights and privileges of any citizen.

“He is my son,” Remus continued, patting Tommy on the back.

The tall alien, made even more so by his lofty pointed headdress, nodded politly before, still somewhat confused, turning to another parent from his home world.

All in all, it was like any first day of school. The parents and loved ones of cadets met their counterparts. Strangers only minutes ago, they were now joined by the common bond of mixed pride and separation anxiety, excited chatter, hugs, and tearful goodbyes. But soon the group was brought to silence by the commands of an immaculately dressed and decorated senior cadet.

“All incoming first-year cadets report to your gate for processing. Have your wristcomm set for ID scan,” the Tarchein’s voice boomed over the room’s PA system. “And mind your brigade!”

The Academy core of cadets was divided into six brigades, all named for a prestigious deceased Tarchein graduate, and each having its own gate, all monitored and controlled by a seemingly nasty-tempered senior cadet. Tommy had been assigned to the Hondo Brigade and therefore wore red collar tabs and a red banshee on his right shoulder, the symbol of the Hondo.

Tommy gathered himself before giving Remus a parting smile and one more quick hug. The Tarchein bravely smiled back and tapped Tommy on the head before watching him disappear into the growing mob of first-years, who, like Tommy, had left the comfort of their parents and escorts to assemble, for the most part, into six single files. He then set his Academy-supplied wristcomm for the ID scan, and fell in behind another cadet wearing red trim on his uniform, both suddenly preoccupied by the berating of a first-year Hondo as he approached the gate. The first-year was being questioned about his apparent lack of intelligence for failing to have the proper setting when approaching check-in. This verbal assault made Tommy even more thankful that he had spent time going through the device’s operations manual. The apparatus, along with his uniform, was all that first-year cadets were permitted to bring.

All uniforms and personal items will be issued by Star Force supply once onboard the station.
His orders had been very clear, a sign of the military nature and the seriousness of his commitment.

“Looks like a nice ship.”

Tommy turned, with a puzzled expression, to face a human who had fallen into line behind him.

“The shuttles.” The dark-skinned boy pointed at the six gray Star Force ships, each attached clear boarding tunnel now filling up with anxious cadets.

In all the excitement, Tommy hadn’t noticed the shuttles positioned on the pad. “It sure does,” he replied.

“She’s Gemini class. We’ll be at the Academy station in less than twenty minutes,” a female cadet from Drake added, her bright turquoise eyes sparkling.

The two Humans looked back at the very pretty cadet while shuffling along in line.

“I’m Bo, from Drake,” she said, putting both hands by her sides, palms out. “Glory and honor be yours.”

“I’m Tommy, from Earth,” Tommy said. “And this is…”

“Gary Cruise, from the red planet of Mars,” Tommy’s new acquaintance said proudly. He flashed a wide grin, bowed slightly, and displayed his palms. “And yours,” Gary continued, giving the proper response to the Drake greeting.

“Are you serious, cadet,” the senior cadet scanning IDs shouted while grabbing the Alterian’s wristcomm and making some hurried entries. “Wyatt,” he continued, “I’m going to keep my eye on you, Toadie.”

Wyatt tapped his wristcomm, as if to imply that there had been some sort of technical glitch, before moving hesitantly into the boarding tunnel, still under the watchful glare of the fourth-year.

The senior cadet’s tirade motivated Tommy to once again glance down at his wristcomm, and once again convinced that all was in order, he looked back to his new friends, who were both nervously checking their comm settings.

The air inside the tunnel felt different, cooler, crisper.
Maybe it’s a pressurization thing,
Tommy thought while looking back through the clear boarding device in the hopes of seeing Remus among the crowd of parents gathered at the windows.

“It’s the oxygen content,” Bo said.

Tommy looked over at Bo, her long black warrior braid somehow staying draped over her left shoulder as she spun around to speak.

“They increase the percentage of oxygen prior to all space flights—Star Force regulation,” she continued before moving ahead of the two Humans to the shuttle’s open hatch.

Tommy exchanged looks with Gary and continued toward the ship, when suddenly they were startled by the appearance of a hovering mechbot. It had darted up and over the clear boarding tube in an effort to join dozens of others all floating around the shuttles, each checking systems or plugging into data ports, ensuring that all was well for the upcoming spaceflight.

“It’s just a bot!” someone from back in the line yelled.

“Keep moving,” another said.

But Tommy stopped again before boarding, just the same. He wanted to get a good look at their ship’s impressive exterior, bathed now in the harsh lighting of the landing pad.

As with all Star Force ships, it was coated in a flat gray color, but their shuttle also included a broad red stripe, stenciled caution information, a large red designation number, and a Star Force Academy seal—all of which depicted its military heritage and filling Tommy felt a touch of pride.
I’m part of this
, he thought as he stepped through the hatch and once again paused to take in the military shuttle’s neat interior.

To his left, or forward, there was an open hatch, but his view was blocked from seeing the limited forward seating. To his right were twelve rows, each with six launch chairs, divided in half by a single aisle, now partially blocked by eager cadets.

“Well come on, cadet.” A senior from Farsee was motioning him to the right. “Take a seat and strap in, princess,” the cadet continued.

Tommy looked for Gary and Bo as he maneuvered past first-years trying to claim a window or in the process of figuring out how to secure themselves.

“Tommy!” Gary stood and waved.

“No talking!” the irritated cadet stationed at the hatch bellowed. “And stay seated!”

Tommy silently moved to the rear of the shuttle and took a seat between Gary and Bo.

“Making friends already I see,” Tommy whispered to Gary while strapping in and glanced over at, Bo, who was completely preoccupied by the prelaunch activities taking place outside her window.

“I said to the left, Toadie!” The cadet’s wrath was now directed at a hapless Tarchein first-year who had hesitated when told to move through the forward hatch.

It was Star Force policy that Tarchein cadets be kept separate whenever possible. Tommy, seeing the commotion, was glad he hadn’t known about the rule. He was thinking of how nice it was to be able to sit with his new friends as he reached for one of the shoulder straps. He was still fiddling with his harness when, looking past Bo, Tommy noticed the mechbots hurriedly scurrying out of sight, clearing the pad; and while still attempting to look as if he had strapped into a Star Force shuttle on many previous occasions, detected a slight, barely noticeable vibration when the first of the ship’s two D-drives came online.

“D’s coming online,” Bo said quietly, not bothering to turn from the window.

Her observation, although obvious to Tommy, was apparent to very few others. Truth was, the majority of the new cadets were completely unaware of the events and activities taking place as their ship prepared for launch. Tommy, on the other hand, found the subtle sounds and the occasional flicker of lights comforting. He was very much looking forward to once again living in space, a feeling that was apparently not shared by everyone. In fact, most of the first-years sat now in numbed silence as the senior cadet moved down the aisle checking that all were securely strapped in, stopping occasionally to chastise or to point out his lack of faith in an individual’s long-term future in the Star Force.

It had become obvious that many of the young cadets, on their own for the very first time, were now overcome with a mixture of anticipation and dread. The magnitude and finality of their decision just now settling in as the shuttle lifted off and headed for the isolation of the orbiting academy. The mood onboard the ship, in sharp contrast to the jubilant core of youngsters that had excitedly entered the military shuttle, had turned apprehensive and solemn.

It was about to get worse…

The planets Drake and Kap, both of which are located in the Trebula system, were, after a prolonged engagement, conquered in 6585-07. Kap capitulated first and was quickly followed by Drake, the birthplace of the Tiejon race. They were both awarded full Imperial status after the total cessation of hostilities, which officially occurred in 6592-04.

The Tiejon are a noble race of pride-based warriors, with the female of the species responsible for the vast majority of combative duties. Not that the males aren’t capable, indeed, they are considerably larger in stature and possess tremendous leadership skills. But genetic imprints along with traditional customs dictate that the male organize and operate the government, overseeing every bit of strategic and economic planning and thus freeing up the female, which outnumber Tiejon males twenty to one, for childbearing and day-to-day labors—including military pursuits. In addition to quick minds and agile athletic bodies, the Tiejon race, with their strong, elf-like features, bronze skin, and large turquoise eyes, are considered by most to be among the most handsome races in the galaxy. They have very little body hair, an obvious trait of an evolved species, with the exception of their heads, where both males and females possess thick straight black hair—the females traditionally keeping it at a length just below delicate pointed ears. In addition, females who have earned a warrior status can be identified by a long braid, draped over the left shoulder and held in place by a golden band adorned with the symbol of their pride.

From inside the boarding area, Remus found a vantage point from which to watch Tommy’s departure. He had thought at one point, during the hurried loading, that he had seen Tommy turn and look back. It had been hard to resist the urge to wave, but one goodbye was enough, he thought. Besides, Tommy would only be gone ten months. Ten months—he tried to imagine the homecoming in an attempt to take his mind off the sadness.
Nonsense,
he finally thought, shaking his great head and raising his hood.
This is the boy’s dream. The day has come at last, a day we have both planned and worked for,
he thought before being distracted by a very slight tremor; looking up, Remus once again focused his attention on Tommy’s shuttle.

The shuttle’s captain had applied power and was in the process of rising into an easy hover. The ship’s three landing skids snapped up and out of sight in what appeared to be a pretty standard launch. But then, when just barely clear of the pad, the transport abruptly rotated ninety degrees and, with its nose pointing straight up, roared into the night sky, leaving behind long fading ribbons of condensed moisture trailing from tapered wing panels.

Quite a
spectacular sendoff,
Remus thought, then turned and made his way toward the lift, filing out of the room along with gathered family and friends—all in silence.

Inside the shuttle, their departure had initially, at least to Tommy, seemed completely normal. But shortly after liftoff, the captain had violently rotated the shuttle’s nose and accelerated with a force Tommy had not imagined possible for a ship this size. A maneuver most, including Tommy, had never experienced in any civil transport, and one that certainly got the attention of the wide-eyed occupants, all now frantically gripping their armrests as if to keep from tumbling up and out of their seats. And this, as it turned out, was to be the enjoyable part of the relatively short ride to the massive orbiting school.

The dear captain, in addition to the erratic military departure, which included several inverted rolls and a high-G pull, had also chosen not to activate the shuttle’s synthetic gravity, resulting in several of the new cadets throwing up. Only a few at first, but soon the sight of panicked cadets groping for sick bags, ghastly gaging sounds, and the awful smell set off a chain reaction. Tommy, thankfully, was not affected, at least not physically, although he could not see the point of making the young first-years so uncomfortable. But then maybe that was the point. The Academy wasn’t interested in putting its students at ease, quite the opposite, a fact that would be reinforced repeatedly over the next four years.