Welcome to Galactic Axia
Solo Mission
For the fourth time since leaving Wirkkala, Delmar brought the Cabbage Patch to a stop to survey the area surrounding his latest navigational target. For the fourth time he had found the planet he was looking for and once again it was a scorched cinder.
When he had successfully found his first target using his own corrections, he had been greatly encouraged. Though the planet looked battle-scarred from space, Delmar well remembered the lesson he had learned at Wirkkala and approached it carefully. When nothing untoward had happened, he entered low orbit and began an intense study of the surface below. He hoped to find another planet hiding behind the wreckage like he had with Wirkkala.
His excitement grew until his atmospheric sensors displayed their readings. This was the first time that he had used the new piece of equipment and the young trooper was a bit surprised when it's alarm went off. "Well that settles that,” he said grimly as he read the display.
The equipment not only read residue radiation in lethal levels, but also various toxic agents in the atmosphere below. Delmar dutifully made a record of the readings. There was growing evidence that the Red-tails had experimented with chemical weapons to immobilize their intended victims.
Though the young Trooper knew of no recent incidents of the enemy using such weapons, there was always the chance that they might return to using them against the Axia. Although their suits protected them from such toxic agents, all Troopers knew that civilians were completely unprotected. Fortunately, Axia scientists were coming up with neutralizing agents to combat the toxic chemicals. If given enough warning, the agents could be released into the atmosphere of a planet and thus protect the population before an attack.
The second and third planets Delmar found were like the first. All were blasted and showed ample evidence of chemical attack. The growing grimness Delmar felt seemed to sap his very soul of energy. When the fourth planet showed a clear atmosphere, Delmar finally found his growing depression start to lift. The hope of finding more survivors buoyed him considerably.
Using both sensor and optical equipment, Delmar scanned the battle sites and the open areas in between. In several cases he spotted ancient wreckage on the edges of the blast zones and marked these for later investigation. Finally having exhausted the capabilities of his equipment in searching for life from orbit, there only remained actual on-site investigation.
Choosing one of the least damaged areas that he had earlier marked, Delmar brought the Cabbage Patch down out of orbit using a circuitous flight path that would minimize his exposure to possible attack. Help was far away and he didn't want to take unnecessary chances even on a seemingly deserted planet.
Using a last ridge of low hills for cover, Delmar brought his ship in at a low shallow angle and landed it in a clear area near some fairly intact buildings. What records he had showed that this had been an important servicing facility for Axia service ships. Delmar was still able to make out the general layout of the facility in spite of eight centuries of decay.
Prudently, Delmar left the drive system of the Cabbage Patch active to maintain the shielding effect that was a by-product of the drive. For several minutes the ship remained motionless, only emitting a slight hum into the silence surrounding it. Delmar used the time to check out the area with his detection equipment hoping to find some evidence of life. When even his aura detector turned up nothing, Delmar shut down the ship and prepared to debark. Donning a clear protective suit and utility belt, the young Trooper exited his ship and stepped out into the strangeness around him.
The first thing Delmar noticed was the total silence of the scene around him. He had the sense that he was the first living thing to disturb the area in countless years. The sound of his boots crunching across the broken pavement sounded deafening. The only thing moving was a slight breeze that arose to stir the dust around his feet.
As he crossed the field, Delmar noticed the unmistakable scorch marks from Axia and Red-tail blasters. A couple of hundred yards away he spotted the burned and rusted remains of several Axia patrollers. The nearby wreckage of a Red-tail ship testified to the fact that the attackers had suffered heavily as well.
Carefully, the young Trooper approached the most intact of the few buildings still standing. It amazed him how torn up things looked as compared with what he had seen from the air. Though perspective could account for some of the difference, a battlefield always looked more graphic when one walked through it.
Slowing as he came to an open door, Delmar looked for both booby traps and possible dangers from the damaged structure. He took the portable light from his belt and shined it into the room. Reasonably sure that he could safely proceed, the young nervous Trooper entered.
The first thing that Delmar noticed was that the room was more intact than he expected in spite of the intervening years. Normally, anything organic deteriorated when exposed to the elements. Either the materials used resisted decay or the planet now lacked the normal microbes that helped return things to their basic components. Delmar reached down to make sure his portable visual recorder was still operating. The analyzers back on Shaimar would be interested in this particular item. It could cause complications if they were to try to repopulate the now empty planet. Determining that this first room had served as a reception area, Delmar decided to explore down the hallway that appeared at the back of the room.
Moving slowly down the hallway, Delmar shone his light into each of the different offices he passed. Most were in bad shape, showing the damage of time and battle. The fight that had taken place here had been hard fought and fierce. He finally reached the main room at the end of the hall. To his surprise its door appeared almost entirely unscathed except for what appeared to be deep gouges near the handle.
The hinges howled as Delmar carefully pushed the door open and shone his light high around the space within. With sweeping motions, he brought the beam of the light lower until he reached the floor level. As he swung it past the broken remains of a large desk, Delmar was shocked to see Trooper dress boots sticking out from behind it. Apprehensively, he walked over and shone his light down behind the desk.
An involuntary gasp escaped from Delmar's lips. There spread out in the glare of his portable light was the skeletal remains of a Trooper. From the insignia on the tattered uniform Delmar knew the man had been a major. Locked in a mutual death grip with the dead officer was the equally dried remains of a Red-tail. Delmar was shocked that it looked far more preserved than the dead Trooper. It's leathery skin had only shrunken against it's skeleton giving it a more savage appearance. The slight shrinkage of it's flesh caused both the claws and fangs to stand out in even sharper relief.
Shaking himself, Delmar pried his eyes away from the macabre scene before him. He carefully retraced his path out of the building and back into the open air. Though the sun was warm on his back, Delmar felt a chill along his spine. Deciding he had seen enough for a while, the young Trooper made his way back to the Cabbage Patch and reentered his ship.
Once inside he peeled off and serviced his pressure suit and then got himself some strong coffee from the food synthesizer. Sitting down at his chart-covered table, Delmar stared unseeing into space for several minutes. His eyes came to rest on the star chart before him. The name of the planet leaped out at him simultaneously with and image of the death scene in the office. A combination of grief and anger welled up inside Delmar, snapping him out of the threatening melancholy.
Draining the last of his coffee, Delmar stood back up and put his cup into the recycler. "It's time to get going, boyo,” Delmar said to himself as he strapped himself back into the control chair.
It only took a few movements to power up the ship. After one last look at the damaged buildings outside the front windows, Delmar advanced the throttle and took the Cabbage Patch back up into the waiting blackness of space.
Return to Preview Page
