Carved Mind

Carved Mind pt 4 - Launch

"His path was clear. In the end, the path he chose to take was his. Predetermined or not. A hero whom have shown the universe that you can break the rules and make your own. A hero that was once a nobody. A hero which you can become if you learn to overcome yourself."

I felt quite overwhelmed by the short powerful story. Is she trying to say that I should break free of the system and create the world I want myself?

"Don't feel too overwhelemed," Scarlet firmly said as she stood a few steps away. "Believe it or not, I once had the power to destroy a world. But I had friends who kicked me from behind to make me realize that I shouldn't let my emotions overpower me. Instead, let your emotions guide you. And let your mind chose the path you want to take.

At that very moment, I realized Leonard is still under the medical machine. It got me worried. He is the only friend I know of. I almost lost him, and myself. Maybe these people I just met are correct. I shouldn't let my emotions overpower me. I should make my own path if I need to.

The alarms started ringing inside the bridge.

"Dad, there's a ship that has jumped into our scan range. We couldn't recognize it. Details aren't on our database." Scarlet said as she looked over a console screen.

"Does it match any of the specification given to us by Posee?" Genus asked Scarlet as he walked into the what seems to be the captains chair in the middle of the bridge.

"I have a positive match on one of them. The other two doesn't match anything." Scarlet responded. "The match is on the UNK-001 specification provided by Posse from the VG00366 scan information. Material Density is 9.722g/cm3 and Estimated Dimensions is 300m x 80m x 100m."

"Bring me any visual if we have any." Genus comanded.

"I have one," said this one guy stiting beside the console Scarlet was using. "Bringing up to the main screen."

A slightly distorted image appeared on the big screen that filled the front walls of the bridge. It looked familiar to me.

"You seem to know what that is. Anything you could share to us?" Genus asked as he looked into me.

"I think that's an Anfang cruiser. It seems to have the same color as the Government uses, but I can't say for sure. The terrorists have been using similar ships as decoys." I answered back.

"I see. I think I understand what happened to us, to them in the past, but I still have to completely understand what's going on here." Genus whipered before asking, "Is it armed?"

"It should be." I asnwered.

"We're screwed." Scarlet said as she looked into the main screen. "What should we do if they decide to fire on us?"

"We run, obviously. Not literally run, but you know what I mean." Genus said.

"Dear, it's not the best time to make jokes." The lady in red said. "If it's a match from our agents, it means we're about to meet what could possibly the cause of this annomaly."

"We're definitely doomed." Scarlet exclaimed as she continued to fiddle with the controls on her console. "It seems we're vector locked. We our attempts to maneuver doesn't seem to be working. We're heading on a single direction."

"Since when did humans have this kind of technology? I don't remember anything from the Oriru archives describing this technology this early on!" Genus said while still seemingly comfortably sitting on his chair.

I wanted to help them, but can't think of anything that could possibly help them in the situation.

"Looks like we're heading in for a collision course dad. Estimating 23 minutes before collision." Scarlet said as she looked furiously fiddled with the controls.

"Can't we do a displacement jump?" Genus said as he kept his eyes on the main screen displaying a map of the ship's heading and a visual of the other ship.

"Not possible, there isn't enough charge to initiate a jump. I don't know the effects of this vector lock to our G-Drive which means I can't possibly recommend activiting an external Newkard field." 

"So what do you suggest?"

"Wait and see if they are actually going to ram us?

"Bad idea, give something better."

"That is the best idea I have."

"Can't we activate the displacement unit to jump a week later in time?"

"Not enough initialization energy dad."

"A few seconds ahead, perhaps?"

"Not enough initialization energy."

"How about activate the newkard field to phase us out so that we don't collide with it?"

"Effects unknown dad."

"Worth the shot?"

"No." Scarlet was getting furious. Her face is painted full of annoyance and fear. She was about to say something when something flashed into her console. She looked into it and looked to Genus. "It seems they are hailing us on a standard FAILTECH channel. Shall I answer?"

"Of course! Put them up on screen." Genus said as he pointed forward into the main display.

"It's a voice only channel." Scarlet said as she pressed a few buttons until a voice started speaking on the bridge's loudspeaker.

"Ship CC00111 nicknamed Chrono. I am Reigel Vhoor, the captain of the Jaaxna. I am from the Chanzoan System Space Navy of the Anfang Government. I request to speak with the captain of this ship." The voice said as our ship continued its collision course.

"I am Genus Orein. I do not represent any organization. I am an independent space traveller." Genus responded.

"Acknowledged. State your destination and origin." Reigel asked.

"Information is classified." Genus replied.

"You do understand you will collide with our ship, correct?" Reigel stated.

"I am very well aware of that. Where di you get this technology?"

"That is also classified. With all due respect Captain Orein, the recent incidents of terrorism and damages to government property elevated security status to question any unauthorized AND unregistered ships flying in Anfang operated space. If you do not answer, I will be forced to ram you into our ship specifically designed for this purpose. If you activate any weapons, long range defensive systems will fire onto you. If those don't work, this ship is more than enough to destroy you. Additionally, there are two other ships with me." Reigel threatened as our ship draw closer and closer into the Jaaxna. "Will you cooperate or will you declare yourselves as terrorists?"