Chapter Four: Welcome to the Bridge

[Akirapryde]

Welcome to the Bridge

Walking in to the bridge, it is a hive of activity. In the large windows, a massive Earth like world dominates the view. Thanks to the breaking burn that the ship is currently going through, the gravity across the ship is much more manageable. On the edge of one of the viewing windows, a large weapon satellite hung in orbit over the world. Near it two more under construction could be seen. Beyond those three satellite, a large space station could barely be seen. The lights around it, indicated some kind of construction. To what extend the construction was, couldn’t be determined from this distance.

The Japanese crew moved through their tasks with diligence as the voice of New Earth Approach could be heard over a loud speaker. “Kuritan Heavy Two Five Three Five Zero, continue on approach. You are clear to Conceptopolis Spaceport. Be advised you are entering a military control zero. Do not deviate from your proscribed vector.”

The communication officer looked over at Sho Sho Tetsuhara who gave him a nod. The officer then turned back to his console and replied in broken English, “New Earth Approach Control, we understand and will comply with the instructions.”

Kimiko glided through the bridge with the grace of a swan moving across the water. She came to a stop next to Sho Sho Tetsuhara, “I never thought I would be returning. At least not like this.”

“We all must answer the call of duty and follow it no matter where it leads us” Sho Sho Tetsuhara said calmly watching the activity on the bridge closely.

Kimiko turned to Jake and smiled. She motioned for him to follow her towards the large viewing windows. “Do you see that large island?” she said pointing at a large island in the center of a great sea between three major continents. “That is the island of Aires’s” she said with pride.

The island of Aires is a large jungle covered island with a number of large and small islands around it. The island at one point was a massive volcano, that has long burned out. Today, its form is barely visible from under its thick jungle canopy. The islands that surround the Aires are all made up of extinct volcanos of different sizes. Beyond this center ring of islands around Aires, there are five major islands that make up the remaining land masses of the Central Sea of New Earth.

“And the continent to the south east, that is Sagittarius. That is where we are going.” The continent of Sagittarius is a large land mass that made up about half of the southern hemisphere. With its large glacier capped eastern mountain ranges, the mass glistened in the light of Tau Ceti. The western regions of Sagittarius were snow covered gentle slopped mountain. “I grew up on those islands in the north eastern region of Sagittarius.”

One thing that could be said about New Earth was that it was large. Its mass is almost three times the size of Terra. But the one feature that really stands out is the thick sheets of ice and glaciers that reach well past the temperate zones. The northern hemisphere of New Earth, is dominated by thick expanses of white that hides the massive continent under it. It is clear that the northern hemisphere is going through its winter.

Kimiko watched New Earth with pride, “I have always forgotten how beautiful my home really is.”

In the west is a large continent that ran from the southern regions of New Earth up towards the equator. Even from orbit, large expanses of mountains could be seen. Glacier capped mountains dominate the western regions of this continent. The large land masses were separated by vast oceans, where small white dots litter the northern and southern regions of these massive oceans. The north and southern poles were capped with thick ice sheets.

Without thinking, Kimiko leaned in to Jake’s shoulder, “isn’t beautiful” she said softly.

“Sho Sho” the communication officer called out. “The President is expecting the Duchess upon our arrival. We have received word that she is to take a transport from the spaceport to the capital where he will great her at the Presidential Palace. His office has relayed to us the celebration event and they are looking forward to greeting the Duchess home.” He paused than said, “hold on.”

With a nod he continued, “Sho Sho, General Macko has instructed us to deviate from our current course. His orders are for us to land at Aires, at Fort Death’s Army Airfield. He said that he wants to personally greet the daughter of Jake Death home. His office has informed us that we will be greeted in full military fashion.”

Sho Sho Tetsuhara turned to Kimiko, “Duchess, our word was given to the President that you will be greeted by him at the Capital.”

Colonel Johns didn’t hold back her tongue, “Kimiko, if you choose one or the other you will be putting the name of your family in support of that faction.” She then turned her attention to Tetsuhara, “this is the danger that I was speaking of.” She turned back to Kimiko who was now giving her full attention to the situation. “Kimiko you are not prepared for this. Let us keep you in orbit. The Enterprise can be your home for the time being and give yourself some time to take in everything that happened. There is no need to rush in to anything.”

Kimiko turned to Jake with a look in her eyes as if she wanted to say something. Instead she just continued to turn towards the window and New Earth beyond. It was clear that she wasn’t sure what to do in this situation.

[Ice Hellion]

Adrian looked at the window. Views from space were always impressive.

[CarcerKango]

Without thinking, Jake slowly wrapped an arm around Kimiko's shoulders.

"It's beautiful..." he whispered, in awe. He felt that there was nothing more he could say, just sharing this moment with her again.

[aipsylon]

Erik looked on at the scene before him and at the requests that were being given for them to arrive, each attempting to curry favor. They could not land at either without showing support for them and not landing after invitations were given would also likely be seen as an insult to both involved he spent a short time thinking the matter over. He waited for Jake and Kimiko to have their moment, heading over to the Sho Sho. "Honoring your word is important. Going to the President, then offering the Death family an appropriate investment of your time to balance, but not overbalance the landing location should allow us to remain politically neutral. That is so long as that is the wish of Kimiko."

[Akirapryde]

As she felt Jake's arms around her she leaned in to him. Her hand found his as she found great comfort in his arms. She couldn't explain it, nor did she want to. In this moment she was safe. But it was the words of Erik that broke that moment of peace for her. She had an obligation and others were looking at her to act.

Kimiko turned from the window, "my father always told me that we honor our agreements. I agree with Erik. Inform the President that we shall travel to the Presidential Palace. Then we will pay General Macko a visit as he suggests. So that we remain neutral." she said softly than turned towards the window. A tear slowly dropped down her face. A tear that only Jake saw. "But before we do anything, I want to go to my father's grave."

She rested her hand on the window as her lower lip trembled a bit, "I have been gone too long. I have to see them," she whimpered. If she could, she would have reached through the window and touched the very world where her father laid to rest.

Far behind Kimiko, Colonel Jones walked up behind Sho Sho Tetsuhara and spoke. "President McGray is the elected leader of New Earth. There is a power struggle growing and General Macko is behind it. Be careful of how we tread." Adrian and Erik were in earshot to hear what was being said.

The Sho Sho turned her head to Colonel Jones, "then we shall consider ourselves lucky that we have the Death's Brigade to protect us, Colonel." She turned to leave the bridge but paused, "Colonel, two things. First, inform the crew of where are landing. Provide them the location of General Death's final resting place. Second, alert your fighters that they will be forming on my wing." On that note, Sho Sho Tetsuhara turned to walk off the bridge.

Colonel Jones looked confused, "on your wing?"

Sho Sho Tetsuhara half turned and nodded, "just in case someone decides that the Duchess should change her course."

[Ice Hellion]

Trying to think fast, Adrian decided to share his idea with Erik.

Erik? I think that if someone gets after us, the sensors of the ship could be used to temporary jam or blind our opponents, provided they are light enough and we focus on a few of them at a time.
I just wanted to let you know in case "our" friends here might need some help later on.

[aipsylon]

Erik gave a short nod of acknowledgement. That was a helpful bit of information, and there was a great deal of tension on the bridge for a routine approach and he was glad that Adrian could sense it as well.

[CarcerKango]

Jake, since Kimiko seemed to approve of his comfort, kept his arm around her, not saying much because he knew it would be trite. "Maybe we can go with you?" he instead offered. "If you like. Unless you'd prefer we didn't."