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This is part of a screenplay I wrote recently. I thought adapting it to a story that is relevant to EV:N would be cool. I've written all my work in screenplay format for a few years, and rarely a sci-fi story. It was actually a challenge to write descriptively again. Please critique the writing style and what you read into the storyline harshly and constructively. More character development and less setting the mood on the way if there is interest.
Song of Life: Sonata - Enjoy!
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A Song of Life: Requiem by: Kuji
Yesterday was a silent day.
Today is a silent day.
For countless millennia, life has not graced this lonely sector of space since the extinction of a race whose name time has all but forgotten. Everyday has been a silent day since then. If time and space had consciousness it would recollect scenes of a futile war. The Space/Time Consciousness would be able to conjure a picture of a memory where billions of lives were extinguished in unison. But that is neither here nor there. The Consciousness has tirelessly watched emptiness, remembering nothing.
Tomorrow will be different. Tomorrow will not be a silent day. Tomorrow the Consciousness will have a visitor. Time will seem to flow forward again in this region of space, if only for a short time. A terrestrial vessel will jump into the sector. The crew will behold a new discovery and a forgotten memory.
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Commander Greene: Captain, sensors are picking up an energy signature that appears to be blinking in and out of three-dimensional space. I've never seen anything like this before. It's faint, but is growing as we approach.
Captain Henderson: Can you be more specific? External cams show nothing. Doesn't look like anything is out there, Commander. Could the sensors be malfunctioning?
Computer: Every ship function is operating within specified Federation parameters.
Commander Greene: Sir, the energy signature seems to be shifting through all known energy frequencies. It is disappearing and reappearing at random intervals. My only guess is that it is shifting through time as well.
Computer: You are incorrect Commander. The energy spikes are rhythmic. They are not random. Time is an undetermined factor. Current scientific law dictates that the energy field cannot be a natural occurring phenomenon in the known universe.
Commander Greene: Captain, the computer is right. There IS a chaotic pattern to what ever that is out there. It's very complex. In fact, I still don't believe these readings... Astounding. There is nothing on record of anything like this in the Federation data banks. I recommend that we stay for further study.
Captain Henderson: Negative. We are not on a science mission. We don't have time to stop and pick every flower you see, Greene. If you are correct, then we should inform Federation Command to get a scientific team here ASAP. Leave a stationary beacon. Relay all relevant recorded information back to Command. Lieutenant Parker, set a course for the next system on our route. As soon as our message is sent, activate...
Commander Greene: Sir! The energy spikes are growing exponentially! The readings are offffffffffffffff...
END OF TRANSMISSION UFS HOOD 04/27/1178 0526:14 FST
The lack of sound in Captain Jessica Kayde's spacious and sterile office would have been unsettling to anybody else on the station. Blue light emanated from her monitor and reflected off of her fair complexion. The shadows that danced around her delicate features revealed an expression of a serious nature. Her breathing rhythm became shallow as her mind fixated on the content of the screen. Military service aged her mind beyond her years and her talents quickly gave her access to computer documents privy to only select Federation officers. Her eyes methodically scanned each screen with restrained impatience. Periodically, she ran her fingers through her short brown hair. This has always been her give away that she was presented with a problem she couldn't quite grasp.
Outside her reinforced station window, a growing number of ships jumped into the system. The odd blue glow of a Vell-Os ship accentuated the number of vessels that waited to dock with the station which bustled with activity more so than usual. She noticed nothing.
The sounds of approaching footsteps echoed through the room. The smooth office door rhythmically slid open and then closed with very little sound. Kayde made no immediate attempt to look up from her screen. She knew who came into her office and what he wanted. Admiral Jeffries stood by the doorway of the steel gray room. Her attention needed just a little bit more time with the screen. She shifted her posture into a more comfortable looking arrangement and waited for the gruff voice to speak, "Captain Kayde, you have had ample time to look over the last transmission sent by the Hood. Have you any theories on what that energy field is that they across?"
Kayde quickly looked up and acted as if she had not noticed him enter the room and shot up in an upright military position. Her expression and tone was of clarity, "Yes sir, but I don't think you would take my theories seriously with out hard proof." She stared directly into her superior's eyes with a piercing gaze that would intimidate most men. "Sir, I have reviewed the Hood's last data dump into the Fed Computer Net. I also reviewed the content of transmission as well as the manner in which we received it. Something is peculiar about the space/time distortion of the very last nano-second of their transmission. I'm not sure what to make of it as of yet. I'm only working with bits and pieces of data. Time is still a wild card in this equation and we don't understand it as well as we need to right now. There is a lot more to this energy field than meets the eye. Most importantly, I believe that the pattern of the energy field is too rhythmically precise. If I had to guess I would say it might be alive or driven by a living or mechanical force. It sounds strange but that's my gut feeling. That is all I have to report at this time. Sir, what did our scientists at TEK Ops say about the matter?"
Jeffries silently chuckled to himself, "Nothing as outlandish as what you just came up with Captain. But then again you wouldn't have this nice, big office if your mind didn't work on another plane from the rest of us... The boys back at TEK have no idea what to make of these readings. To even take a guess would mean that 3 or 4 of the physical laws of the universe they hold dear are false. Doctor Kojiro himself has endearingly dubbed the energy field 'the Hand of God'. But some of the younger boys with more creative views believe this is some kind of inter-dimensional conduit. The next step beyond a wormhole from what I understand. They won't even begin to theorize where it could possibly lead. They also said that its latent energy alone could obliterate every sub atomic particle with in a five-parsec radius."
Kayde abruptly looked at her monitor in complete disbelief, "I hadn't calculated that much power output... But maybe they are right... That's unbelievable... I would like to see their..."
With a smile on his face, Jeffries firmly interrupted, "It's good to know I can still break your hard exterior every now and then, even if it does take a possible act of God... If I may finish, we have important material to cover..." Kayde gathered her composure. Her cool exterior quickly returned. "You can see why the military is taking such a high priority on this matter. For now, we are keeping this incident secret from the Bureau. Officially, a Rebel fleet ambushed the Hood. We don't want to give up any opportunities while this can still fall under strict military jurisdiction. You have also been chosen for the honor to be the Fed Intel officer to recon this sector. Officially, of course, your mission is to search for the Rebel fleet in hiding. We are sending an unregistered T2 with you. This is strictly OFF the record. Make no mention of him on ANY of your logs. He is an invaluable asset to the High Command. He is a full-breed Vell-Os named Tayleren. The Bureau doesn't have their telepath's claws into him yet. We protect his freedom. In return he does our dirty work on occasion. We want to keep it that way. We need him back fully functional after your mission. Your reputation is on the line, Captain. But I did NOT need to tell you that. We think that Tayleren might be able to determine more of the true nature of this energy field. We didn't consider it to be alive. He should be able to confirm or refute your theory... in theory, of course. All work from TEK will be sent to you on a secured channel during your voyage. You should have plenty of time to review everything you will need to know. Please document all relevant information you have come up. High Command wants to thoroughly review your thoughts on this matter. You are assigned to take command of the Liberator. Transfer orders are being relayed to her captain at 0-700." In one quick motion, Jeffries dropped a mini-console on Kayde's desk. "Every objective is laid out in full detail. Your transfer order is included. Good luck Captain." Admiral Jeffries quickly jerked around in an authoritative fashion and began to leave.
Kayde quickly looked over the mini-console with quiet contempt over her mission objectives. "Sir, am I given this honor because I am expendable?" Jeffries slumped over before he could walk through the door. He made no attempt to look at Kayde directly. "You were chosen for this honor because you were the best person for the job. Your survival track record during dire situations is impeccable. And you ARE slightly expendable. Just come back in one piece, Captain. Then we won't have to worry about expendability issues. Good day."
On that note, Jeffries walked briskly out of the office and left Kayde to ponder the risks involved with her next mission. She glanced out of the reinforced station window and caught s a glimpse of the Liberator in space dock. Minor re-outfit work was hastily being completed. No doubt for the mission. She knew the ship's captain would be very agitated over the transfer orders. The Liberator's reputation is one of the highest in the Fleet.
Next chapter of the story (tentatively) will be:
A Song of Life: Sonata
Please leave feedback!
(This message has been edited by moderator (edited 09-16-2002).)
There were a few typos, but that's about it. Cool story.
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Wow. Good writing style. I like the screenplay styling of the first part, but you left off with it after the U.F.S. Hood disappeared. I assume, from the name of the vessel, that you are familiar of the story of the H.M.S. Hood and the Bismark. I look forward to the next chapter.
------------------ Youre only given a little spark of madness. You mustnt lose it. -- Robin Williams
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Originally posted by spacecowboy: **Wow. Good writing style. I like the screenplay styling of the first part, but you left off with it after the U.F.S. Hood disappeared. I assume, from the name of the vessel, that you are familiar of the story of the H.M.S. Hood and the Bismark. I look forward to the next chapter.
**
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the story of the HMS Hood is so heroic in WW I and so tragic in WW II. I had to pay homage to it somehow. Now that I know someone enjoyed the story, I'll get to work on the next part, which should be a lot more interesting I think the whole story altogether should be around 7-10 chapters, but I'll keep it brief for the web
edit EVula, I'll edit it properly next time, I kind of just threw it up there to see what kind of responses I got back. Editing at 4am doesn't really help much at all...
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(This message has been edited by Kuji (edited 09-18-2002).)
Originally posted by Kuji: **Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, the story of the HMS Hood is so heroic in WW I and so tragic in WW II. I had to pay homage to it somehow. Now that I know someone enjoyed the story, I'll get to work on the next part, which should be a lot more interesting:) I think the whole story altogether should be around 7-10 chapters, but I'll keep it brief for the web
Wait a minute You're going to keep it SHORT??? No! You can't do that! Post it all! It looks good so far, may end up like the Dorsai! series There are certainly some similarities in your writing style. Besides, I, for one, would like to read the whole thing.
Originally posted by spacecowboy: **Wait a minute You're going to keep it SHORT??? No! You can't do that! Post it all! It looks good so far, may end up like the Dorsai! series There are certainly some similarities in your writing style. Besides, I, for one, would like to read the whole thing.
Ok, the full next chapter will be sent to tomorrow once I finish up with the last minute touches. I'm really curious about the Dorsai! series. I haven't read them, and I really want to compare it Can you email me and tell me a little more about them?
Originally posted by Kuji: **Ok, the full next chapter will be sent to tomorrow once I finish up with the last minute touches. I'm really curious about the Dorsai! series. I haven't read them, and I really want to compare it:) Can you email me and tell me a little more about them?
Dorsai! was written by somebody whose name I can't recall right now, and I can't find the book. It was based in the (big surprise) future, when seventeen worlds had been colonized. Each world had its own little specialty: Ceta was the center of training for business, the two Exaltationist worlds were the centers for science and philosophy, the two Friendly worlds (not quite as kind as their name would suggest) were the worlds where people were trained in religion. Dorsai was the warrior world. It was a rather odd world, where anybody was free to do as they chose -- as long as they did not force another to do anything. All trade was dealt in contracts: once you came of age, your contract was bought by somebody who needed a person of your abilities.
I'm sure that so far, this sounds absolutely nothing like what you've written, and that part isn't. What's similar is that indescribable something, the feeling you get from somebody's writing style. That part is almost identical. I look forward to your next chapter.