Startech Exowar- Chapter 2 (standard:science fiction, 3039 words) [2/4] show all parts
Author: SpencerSE2004	Added: Sep 15 2002	Views/Reads: 2695/2072	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
What is the X-factor? Chavez and Jeff set out to learn the answer as trouble brews outside Hendrix station.

Chapter 2.0 

Armand sat in his chair, looking out the window of the battleship and
into the darkness of space. His new job had not only taken him from the 
one he loved so much, but it also reassigned him to a ship. One that 
was combat ready and lingering right outside Union areas none-the-less. 
He herd the door open behind him, but didn't bother to turn around. He 
saw no real need, it was probly just another tech-crew worker here to 
give him the reports from the battle on his former station. 

"Do you not like your new job, Mr. Gertain?" said a voice. It was that
of his only worker to join him on this job. One of his more loyal 
workers, Blake, took on the job of being his second-in-comand. 

Armand spun around in his chair and looked at Blake with cold eyes. "No,
in fact I really hate this job." he replied. 

"Well i'm sorry to hear that, sir." Blake answered and walked out.
Suddenly the door opened again and in walked the man who brought him to 
the job. He was a man by the name of General Dwight McSlans. Dwight 
wasn't a very big man, he was actually quite small for a man his age. 
He couldn't have been older than his late fifties, but he still could 
have been bigger. 

"What do you want General?" he asked. 

"Why, just checking on your progress Capitan." Dwights German accent
stood out among Armand's crew. "And might I add, it's a fine job you're 
doing too. But i'm displeased to hear that you don't like your new job. 
What, might I ask, is the matter?" 

"What's the matter?!" Armand yelled. "A group of piolts, who aren't
Confederates mind you, just risked their lives a few days ago to save 
the people of that station down there. You hired them and didn't bother 
to tell them that the Union had them outnumbered three-to-one!" Armand 
turned his veiw back to the emptyness of space. He could see Luna, and 
Mars with both of it's moons. The red planet stood out so much, being a 
natural red and not the red of explosions in the distance. 

"They took the job, it was their choice." Dwight said as Armand turned
back around. "I understand you and their leader go back a long time, 
very useful isn't it?" 

"If it wasn't for the fact that I was running that station at the time,
she wouldn't have come." Armand looked down at his desk. A note from 
Karen rested on it. "Were'd this come from?" he asked as he looked back 
up into Dwights dark green eyes. 

"It was there when I got here." he replied. 

"Blake must've brought it in. I wonder how she found out what ship i'm
on. Oh well. General, if you'll excuse me." 

"I'd much rather stay, Capitan." 

Armand looked at Dwight with his cold eyes, just as he did to Blake.
"This is my ship, General. I can have you taken off by force if you 
prefer." 

Dwight looked at Armand, and turned away. he walked out the door
mumbling something that Armand could have cared less about. Armand 
opened the envelope and pulled out the letter as he began to read. 

************************ 

Chavez sat next to Jeff's bed, his arm in a sling. He looked at his
friend. The X-factor had affected him, and knocked him out for the last 
four days. Nobody knew why Jeff was affected, but Chavez was the most 
worried. Jeff had put his lfie on the line not only to save him, but 
all the poeple inside the station too. Although the X-factor remained a 
mystery, Chavez knew that Jeff was a great man. Even in times of panic 
and fear he prevailed over his foe and saved people's lives. Karen 
walked in the door of the hospital room and sat next to Chavez, handing 
him a coffee. He took a sip and looked at her, he hadn't slept in the 
last three days. He stayed up all night hoping that Jeff would finally 


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