Travis Ryans was born in a room next to a lab full of alien brains.
And thusly begins the incessantly intriguing life-story of the incredible Travis Ryans. He was born a lovechild to be kept most secret, in arguably the most top-secret facility in Sirius-Fairbanks station, Alaska. Of course, even scientists and government officials suffer from lonliness and the pulls of physicality, despite the fact it is banned by law at the station. Roxanne Bryant birthed Travis upon her "shore leave" stay on Planet Manhattan. She was able to return with Travis to Fairbanks by hiding him in her luggage along with Alien Organisms-which got him past the organic sensors employed upon the station. Upon arriving onto Fairbanks, Travis was kept in secret between the quarters of both both Roxanne and Scott. Both loved Travis dearly, but his childhood suffered periods of neglect and isolation as the work of his parents could not be disturbed.
Upon reaching early childhood, Scott and Roxanne realized that Travis must not be raised in a scientific facility, however getting him off station would prove difficult as obviously he had grown greatly in size. Both parents struggled with the difficult decisions involved, revealing the presence of a child would lead to-at best- dismall with a partial pension. However Travis was obviously developing a seriously introverted attitude. Even his parents struggled to connect with the child, as he proved emotionally detached and unreachable. Though there was one positive, he showed a devotion to study. Even at the young age of five and one-half years, his comprehensive abilities allowed him to analyze the most basic of algebra problems and puzzles. Thusly his parents decided that until the problem could be solved, they would focus on his mental growth.
Travis learned quickly. By age 7 his mental skillset soon exceeded those of most age 16. Mental devotion was not enough, he began fine-tuning his body. However at his younger age and muscle developent he could not further his physical-and sometimes mental development. His frusturation led to unhappiness, and his parents struggled with what to do.
Frusturation, unhappiness...
Limits, constraints...
These were not to be...
He did not understand. Why couldn't he move forward?
Thankfully as the greatest parents often do, his parents found a solution...
Young Travis neared age eight, as also neared the completion of new research upon Fairbanks. Project 1082 was research involving alien organisms that had been altered not to be fueled by o2 and carbon dioxide, but by hormones released by humans. These organisms were programmed to help regenerate/build bones, tissue, and strengthen nerves, and brain tissue. Combined with the hormones-and rate of hormones released by human adults, these organisms could help speed and improve recovery of damage to brain tissue or muscle. Roxanne first had the idea, as a leader in biogenetic-accelerated-growth she realized the potential it could bring her son. These organisms combined with the massive hormone levels observed in adolescents would cause rapid, accelerated growth. Not only would this soothe the frusturated Travis, it would offer him an extra ten years of mental growth and physical improvement. After a couple months of work with Scott, work that involved late night research into the possible affects of administration, the two of them administered Travis repeatedly with the organisms.
Grow Travis did, his physical and mental limitations grew exponentially, and even him-brilliant, physically limber, and with all of the time in the world, could not possibly push the limits of his limits. However his limits were far beyond those of a normal human, even at age 11. Other side effects were present. The organisms not only improved his capacity for learning and physical augmentation, they improved nerves, tissue. Therefore reaction times increase, reflexes improved, and IQ increased. IQ skyrocketed in fact.
By age 15 Travis was built like a marine and could compete intelligence-wise with many officers and scientists. However, a stroke of bad luck struck. Very bad luck indeed.
The Liberty Navy, obviously, had recognized Travis' presence long ago. The previous base commander had decided to let the "Travis Experiment" continue, as the affects of these organisms upon humans would be illegal research-untouchable by official Navy doctorines. However this "secret" was not responsibility of the Navy, not even "known" by Navy, so basically they saw Travis as rules-free experiment in which the Navy had its bases covered. However the switch to a new commander brought change, and among that change a perception that Travis was possibly dangerous and too advanced to be left to his own. It was decided that he would be seperated from his parents and sent to West Point to join the ranks of Liberty Officers. So on a quiet night, a "bioscan of the entire facility" as it was reported to the news, revealed a stowaway adolescent. According to regulation, the parents were discharged and sentenced for breaching integrity of a Navy facility. The child was sent to a Naval Academy...
Travis never again would see or hear of his parents. Silently, in his introverted way, he hated the Liberty Navy and all of Liberty's security forces for his forced isolation. However he recognized the importance of both officer's and pilot's training in a world of freelancer and mercenary work. He worked hard to excel in his training, planning all along to abandon his mentors when the time came. Though he realized he needed opportunity in order to leave the military, and that opportunity would provide itself soon through a friend.
Officer Jamie Syles was a bright young woman. In the same class as Travis, she was attending schooling so that should could provide protection and escort for her parents Kate and Josh. They were pilots for Universal, and she desperately wanted to protect them. She was attracted to Travis, and he to her. They began dating during school, and were frequently observed studying together as well as going to dinners and other such things. It was Jamie who would help lessen Travis' introversion, and would help him develop the bonds and skills his parents could not-the social ones. Jamie and Travis grew close, and as they left officer training, which they both passed with incredible marks, Travis took her side in space and helped her protect her family. Jamie and Travis' relationship was perfect, and he was happy to protect it. However once again, bad luck struck.
Jamie's parents had bought Mammoth freighters only weeks before the unthinkable happened. Upon entering a tradelane from Planet Los Angeles to Planet Mojave, Jamie fell from formation. "Don't worry, I'll catch up at the end of the lane." However the lane was jammed, 3 hacker daggers, along with 2 bombers that Travis had never seen before appeared from nowhere. Scanner readings provided a name without meaning, "Falcata". Quickly he was overwhelmed, as were Jamie's parents. Travis watched their hulls take torpedoes and burn, escape pods jetissoned, and a nearby dagger scooped him up. Screaming in rage, Travis fired his cannon and his missiles screamed towards the target. Careful not to destroy the craft, he tailed it closely and shot at its wingtips, hoping to dislodge the cargo. His attempts were failing as Jamie finally joined the fight, guns blazing she quickly dropped a bomber and a dagger. Apparently one of the craft had been a wingleader, as the dagger Travis had pursued dropped his cargo to lighten his craft. Jamie swooped in to grab her parents, not even pausing to notice the inbound Falcata that had not retreated. Its guns proved too strong and her ship quickly deteriorated, she ejected as Travis brought in both her and her parents. Not wanting to risk the lives of them all, he did his best to evade gunfire and work his way towards the recovered trade lane. Before the Falcata realized Travis' move, he hit the lane and ran.
They landed back at Manhattan.
Heartbroken.
Dreams shattered.
But, no lives lost.
However now, the future was in question. The purchase had left little money saved, and the only capital that the four had to their name was Travis' ship. Jamie, however, was not well. She felt she was to blame for the loss of her family's wealth. Crushed, she slipped into depression. Travis struggled to help. He felt he could not. He felt powerless and to blame, he was there. He should have stopped them and yet, it was 5 on 1. There was little he realistically could have done, there was only the future. The future was all that remained to be fixed. He knew what he had to do.
He left.
Left his love, his life, and his ship. A letter and a sum of 93,000 credits, the final sum of his ship's worth, he left with Jamie's parents. The letter was a promise, a promise to return when he had finally created the ability to restore the love of his life, and her family.
He caught a ride to Freeport 4. There he scoured the bars of the IMG base looking for work. Eventually a pilot offered him a deal. Fly escort to Leeds, and the trader would let Travis keep the well equipped Sea Serpent fighter that he owned. Apparently it had been bought and set up for a friend who was killed in a barfight. Of course Travis, seeing opportunity, helped the trader to Leeds and then continued onward with his new ship.
Obviously, Travis' best bet was to escort traders for small fees, and in a stroke of luck he ran into a trader at Planet Leeds that he had met on Freeport 4. This IMG trader was heading to Newcastle. South Shields refinery, in fact. So naturally Travis headed to South Shields, accepting a chance at a few credits and possibly an opportunity for work, as his reputation with the IMG slowly grew. At the refinery, Travis found little work but many friends. Finally however, he was fed up with waiting, and offered a free escort to any trader heading towards a known Zoner base. An enterprising trader, claiming to be part of a "trader's guild", said he was heading for Freeport Six, and Travis followed. Travis had heard that the Zoners were one of the richest factions around, and he hoped for a piece of the pie.
And rich they were, work was plentyful at the station. Travis picked up loose jobs until a convoy of IMG traders asked for his assistance. "We're heading to Holmann Outpost." They offered a large reward for successful transport, and that definitely fit the bill for Travis. Off to Holmann he headed, and there his life would change forever.
Travis arrived at Holmann into one of the largest firefights in recent history, the traders ran for the station, but Travis thought elsewise as a system-wide transmission stated "This is Homann Outpost, to any ships in the area, we are under heavy attack by Bretonian bombers that are deviating from Kusari capship attack runs! We need any pilots out there who are able to intercept those incoming bombers. Please!"
Now not many freelancers would want to get caught shooting down Bretonian ships, however, Travis saw only opportunity and not consequence. Thankfully in a later move, Bretonia would apologize for attacking the Kusari forces and Holmann as a lump target (therefore granting an "amnesty" for freelancers involved), but at the time Travis looked up at his neural net credit readout and imagined some oh-s. So he took off, rolling and diving and blazing fire like burning Hfuel. Bombers dropped fast, some to Kusari gunboat fire, some to Holmann's autoturret defenses, but a disturbing amount to a young pilot in a Light Fighter. 4, 7, 12. The bombers were no match for the seemingly cardamine-reflexed pilot. He ducked and rolled, dodging missiles even after his countermeasure ammunition had long expired. His guns blazed white hot, afterburner overuse warnings screamed at him, but the kill count on his HUD kept his hands fully down on the throttle and the fire controls. Soon, the Bretonian Armed Forces fell in full retreat, and 17 burning bombers had Travis gunshots as their coupe de gras. Upon docking at the Holmann base, both his trading convoy and the captain of defense rushed to greet him.
"Good day to you friend, I am Commander Al Remmington of the IMG outpost Holmann, and I have quite the thanks for you."
"Quite the thanks" wasn't even close.
Travis was told he would be escorted to the remote Guard System of Tau44. Such a visit to a system was an honor, as it was the IMG's best protected system that comprised of their best stocked bases. Remmington's aide led Travis to Signapore Shipyard... "docking bay 3, its all yours."
Docking bay 3 contained two things, one incredibly small yet with incredible meaning; one incredibly big with yet bigger firepower. A note from the traders he had helped earlier contained an offer "To Mr. Travis Ryans, you have been most kind in aiding me and my friends. I have heard that not once but twice you have now aided TG members, the last time with great personal risk to yourself which you engaged in to protect innocent lives. Granted, as all of us, you were working partially for the credits, but anyone as brave as you is definitely welcome in our newfound Guild. We are a new and quickly growing group of traders and escort pilots, who look to prosper here in Sirius... Also on another matter: your service record and IQ, Reflex, BMI, and Physical Abilities test scores are astronomical. Also, we have found, you are honest, willingly helpful, and show an incredible sense of duty. Upon recommendation of our Guild Master, who was part of the convoy you helped bring to Holmann, we offer you the newly created position of Defense Wing Commander. A position you will hold from your new IMG built gunboat that sits at this very docking bay.
Travis smiled as he wrote his response, accepting the offer. "Just one thing my friends and future wingmates, I have a stop to make on my way to Headquarters."
After recieving proper clearance Ryans docked at Manhattan. A few hours later, he was at the door of the residence housing Jamie Syles and her family.
Smiling with happiness untold, he stammered out the worst line ever, "Hi, I've finally made things right. Are you ready to pick up where we left off?"
Two days later Ryans reported to [tg]Headquarters outside Newark Station. Jamie's parents relaxed comfortably at home, with enough credits to retire from their risky trade, while their daughter and his new fiance floated outside the planet upon which they lived.
"Hailing HQ, this is Defense Commander Travis Ryans of Ace's Pride..."
"...and XO, Lt. Commander of Ace's Pride Julie Syles-Ryans reporting for duty, sir."
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[5:57:11 PM] InfernalTater (Lewis) [Formerly TLI-Inferno]:meanwhile, Aces 'I don't always miss my destinations, but when I do, I'm on the other side of house space.'