gonna do, Will?”
“Well, I can tell you from our conversation here, if you hadn’t told me I wasn’t really talking to you, I would have never known otherwise. This hologram program is really . . . really good kid. I know it seems like a shitty thing to do, but for now you just could act like nothing’s changed.”
“Yeah, but I was supposed to rotate back home in ten months. And now . . . I have no idea what’s going to happen.” Martin shook his head in dismay. “The only thing I can tell you is I won’t be coming home like this. And I’m sorry, it maybe selfish, but I refuse to change into a tincan that I wouldn’t like, just to come home. Once you’re in a tincan you’re in it for a least a year. Besides I have a feeling that they aren’t going to let me off the hook too easy, experienced pilots are hard to come by for borging. Most of the time when something happens, you either get out in reasonable shape, or you don’t survive. It’s the nature of space combat.” Martin shrugged and raised his eyebrows.
Will sucked air through his front teeth in thought. “I don’t know, I agree it seems like a dirty thing to do, and it’s going to make things worse when you have to own up to it.” Will studied Martin’s image for a moment. “Oh, hell. Don’t do a damn thing until I talk to Angel. Her and mom were always real close, maybe she can come up with something.”
“Ok, hey I’m really sorry to dump all this on you. But I just didn’t know where to start. They told me this was one of the roughest parts, I just wish they’d be wrong once in my favor.”
“Don’t worry about us, you take care of yourself and get on with your life or whatever. I’ll get in touch after I talk to Angel.”
“All right, well I gotta run. Just let me know when you want to talk and I’ll contact you on my internal system. There’s gotta be some damn up-side to this crap.”
“Take care.” Will smiled and Martin winked as he faded out. Will sagged in his chair muttering, “dammit Martin, what a stinking mess, ohh take care of yourself little brother”. He remembered the arm wrestling and general sibling roughhousing that could never be again. “Dammit.”
8: A Warborg Is Born
^Ok, so you’re ready to go?^ Brian’s image was somber.
^Yes sir, I guess I am. I just left the bay. They checked out the ship and it’s ready to roll. I took on a full compliment of missiles and had the pulse cannons hard cycled.^ Martin still didn’t feel ready, but he’d been at it for two weeks and knew the rest of the squadron was getting impatient.
^Very well. Captain?^ He looked away from Martin and said something.
Commander Britain’s image appeared beside Brian.
Martin pulled himself up straight and saluted the Commander. ^Captain Martin Morgan reporting for combat duty, Sir.^
Britain snapped a return salute. ^Welcome to the Military Combat Cyborg Command Captain. I know you will serve with pride and honor.^
^Thank you Sir, yes Sir.^
^Carry on Gentleman.^ Both junior officers saluted and Britain answered with a salute as he faded out.
^Short and sweet, just how I like them.^ Brian smiled at Martin. ^Jester is on scramble alert for another four hours. You know the drill.^
^Oh yeah, some things never change.^ Martin’s smile faded. ^Brian, before we get too busy I just wanted to say thanks. It’s been a bizarre couple of weeks, without you and the others I don’t think I would have made it.^
Brian smiled and chuckled. ^Just show me we weren’t wasting our time and I’ll be happy.^ He winked and flickered out.
. . .
^That’s us.^ Reese commented as Space Command finished with the intruder report. “Roger Command, Jester two and four proceeding to designated intercept point.”
“Copy, Jester two and four to intercept.” The female voice was quiet and precise.
“Roger, Command.”
“Good luck, Command out.”
^Initialize FTL [2]
“Well, I can tell you from our conversation here, if you hadn’t told me I wasn’t really talking to you, I would have never known otherwise. This hologram program is really . . . really good kid. I know it seems like a shitty thing to do, but for now you just could act like nothing’s changed.”
“Yeah, but I was supposed to rotate back home in ten months. And now . . . I have no idea what’s going to happen.” Martin shook his head in dismay. “The only thing I can tell you is I won’t be coming home like this. And I’m sorry, it maybe selfish, but I refuse to change into a tincan that I wouldn’t like, just to come home. Once you’re in a tincan you’re in it for a least a year. Besides I have a feeling that they aren’t going to let me off the hook too easy, experienced pilots are hard to come by for borging. Most of the time when something happens, you either get out in reasonable shape, or you don’t survive. It’s the nature of space combat.” Martin shrugged and raised his eyebrows.
Will sucked air through his front teeth in thought. “I don’t know, I agree it seems like a dirty thing to do, and it’s going to make things worse when you have to own up to it.” Will studied Martin’s image for a moment. “Oh, hell. Don’t do a damn thing until I talk to Angel. Her and mom were always real close, maybe she can come up with something.”
“Ok, hey I’m really sorry to dump all this on you. But I just didn’t know where to start. They told me this was one of the roughest parts, I just wish they’d be wrong once in my favor.”
“Don’t worry about us, you take care of yourself and get on with your life or whatever. I’ll get in touch after I talk to Angel.”
“All right, well I gotta run. Just let me know when you want to talk and I’ll contact you on my internal system. There’s gotta be some damn up-side to this crap.”
“Take care.” Will smiled and Martin winked as he faded out. Will sagged in his chair muttering, “dammit Martin, what a stinking mess, ohh take care of yourself little brother”. He remembered the arm wrestling and general sibling roughhousing that could never be again. “Dammit.”
8: A Warborg Is Born
^Ok, so you’re ready to go?^ Brian’s image was somber.
^Yes sir, I guess I am. I just left the bay. They checked out the ship and it’s ready to roll. I took on a full compliment of missiles and had the pulse cannons hard cycled.^ Martin still didn’t feel ready, but he’d been at it for two weeks and knew the rest of the squadron was getting impatient.
^Very well. Captain?^ He looked away from Martin and said something.
Commander Britain’s image appeared beside Brian.
Martin pulled himself up straight and saluted the Commander. ^Captain Martin Morgan reporting for combat duty, Sir.^
Britain snapped a return salute. ^Welcome to the Military Combat Cyborg Command Captain. I know you will serve with pride and honor.^
^Thank you Sir, yes Sir.^
^Carry on Gentleman.^ Both junior officers saluted and Britain answered with a salute as he faded out.
^Short and sweet, just how I like them.^ Brian smiled at Martin. ^Jester is on scramble alert for another four hours. You know the drill.^
^Oh yeah, some things never change.^ Martin’s smile faded. ^Brian, before we get too busy I just wanted to say thanks. It’s been a bizarre couple of weeks, without you and the others I don’t think I would have made it.^
Brian smiled and chuckled. ^Just show me we weren’t wasting our time and I’ll be happy.^ He winked and flickered out.
. . .
^That’s us.^ Reese commented as Space Command finished with the intruder report. “Roger Command, Jester two and four proceeding to designated intercept point.”
“Copy, Jester two and four to intercept.” The female voice was quiet and precise.
“Roger, Command.”
“Good luck, Command out.”
^Initialize FTL [2]
Similar Books
