In the Mind’s Eye

Chapter 3

Zach broke from his staring contest with Joseph and ran to the bridge. When he got there he as surprised to see a large squid-like ship through the front view screen. An ensign noticed Zach and said to him: “It just jumped in sir; we’re still trying to figure out its identity.”

Zach heard someone walking up behind him.

“It’s the Bright Anticipation.” Joseph said flatly.

The ensign gave Joseph a quizzical look.

“Major!” another ensign said as he looked up from his computer console. “We’ve been able to decode its transponder signal. It’s the E.A.S. Bright Anticipation, ID number JH-114, Roland class. It’s a slave ship sir.” That brought everyone’s heads up.

The first ensign gave Joseph an even more questioning look and mumbled, “How the heck?” But Joseph brushed it off and stepped closer to Zach.

“I suggest we board it Major.” He said. “We could save a lot of people.”

“I agree. Captain, I want our meshes up and whatever weapons that ship has immobilized.”

“Right away Major.” Captain Baruch said. He then began to issue orders.

A tech suddenly spoke up. “Captain, their powering up their plasma turrets. They’re on the ship’s aft dorsal structure.”

“Take them out.” The Captain said sternly.

Two precise bursts were fired from the Hildebrand’s forward cannons. They impacted the unshielded Anticipation and destroyed the two plasma turrets.

“Targets neutralized Captain.” The technician said.

“Good. Now take out their engines and NOVA drives. That should leave them ripe for the picking.”

Several more bursts from the forward cannons ensued.

“Targets neutralized.” The gunnery technician said.

“I’ll take it from here.” Zach said as he stepped over to the intercom receiver. “D Company, first platoon, I want you in boarding craft and ready for insertion on the double!”

Within five minutes, first platoon was packed, armed, and loaded into APCs. Those ships were immediately launched, mag-clamped themselves to the Bright Anticipation,

and began to bore their way into the slave ship. As soon as the troops entered the Anticipation, they were greeted by grungy hallways and plasma fire from Alliance marines. Resistance was light though, and the ship was soon captured. The boarding parties’ sign of triumph was a transmission that was sent from the Anticipation’s bridge to the Hildebrand: “She’s ours sir.”

Then began the long process of moving all the slaves from the Anticipation to the Hildebrand. Zach went to see the captured Alliance vessel before it was stripped of anything useful and destroyed. Joseph naturally tagged along.

“Why did they call this piece of junk the Bright Anticipation? There’s nothing bright about it.”

“Its name was a joke for the Alliance marines. It made fun of the slaves’ captivity. They hated it.” Joseph said, looking around the grimy rooms and hallways with a far off look in his eyes, almost as if he was reminiscing.

“I hate this place already.” Zach said. “How long did the slaves have to be here?”

“Not more than a week usually. This ship is used for transporting slaves from one factory or camp to another. Time was of the essence, so they weren’t here for long.”

“Then why was it here?” Zach asked.

“I think this piece of space was a transfer zone where two or more slave ships exchanged ‘cargo’. I think the other ships were just not on time.” Joseph answered.

“Although,’ Joseph said slowly, ‘If the Anticipation was supposed to exchange slaves with other ships, then where are they? We need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

“That’s already well on the way.” Zach said. He then activated his mesh and opened a comm. channel. “Victor, are the nukes set?”

“Set and primed.” came the gruff reply.

“Good.” Zach said. “I don’t think there’s anything on this ship worth salvaging, so head back to your APC and get back to the Hildebrand.”

“Sure thing.” Victor said and cut the link.

“Well Joseph,’ Zach said as he deactivated his mesh, ‘It’s time to head back.”

“Thank you.” Joseph said exasperatedly. “I couldn’t wait to leave his place.”

* * *

Back on the Hildebrand’s bridge, Zach gave the OK to set off the nukes in the Bright Anticipation’s main cargo hold. He then sat down in one of the command chairs and rested his head on his fist as the Hildebrand NOVA-jumped into Colonial controlled space.

* * *

In the Hildebrand’s cafeteria, Joseph was loading a plastic tray full of food. The cafeteria was packed with former slaves who were getting (what they thought) the best meal of their lives.

As Joseph walked around looking for a place to sit and eat, he heard a familiar voice call his name. The tray clattered to the floor.

It was her.

End of Part 1