HMRV-Oxford

[Husher]

Chapter 1

Returning home.
Deep in the Barrier Icefields.

"Attention all hands, prepare for departure T minus five and counting!."
Thomas Buckley sat in his command chair on Oxford'€™s bridge and listened to the announcements from his crew. Around him the liners bridge crew was busy with the myriad last-minute details that always proceeded when leaving for space. He watched their quiet professionalism and thought of similar operations before. They had done this so many times most procedures could be done in their sleep, still they are Armed Forces and procedures were mandatory.

Two minutes after the announcement, department heads began relaying their status to the ship's executive officer Ethan Leigh. As Buckley eavesdropped on the command circuit, he felt a sudden rush of pride at the caliber of people he had working under him. He started reading the message he got this morning again.

***Flash... Flash.... Flash....****
To: HMRV-Oxford.
From: HQ.
Priority: High.
Encryption Key: High Ultra 27593/B-I/4
Subject: Recall order.
1.The Oxford has to return to Pl. Leeds at best speed for a personal meeting with HQ. It's imperative to arrive as soon as possible for new operational orders.
2.Ships inspection by Armed Forces safety inspector will be conducted at determined date if its not interfering with current ship's operations.
3.Debriefing Athena project.
4.Debriefing Keystone project.
5.Delivering classified intel operation purple Brimstone.

**End of Flash... End of Flash..... End of Flash....***

Five minutes later the ship went under way for her long voyage home. When she drifted away from the spacestation Sunderland deep in the outskirts of the Newcastle system, her main engines took over the powersupply of the ship. Slowly the station faded away when the massive liner laid in a course for the gate leading into Leeds. Coming from deep out of the Newcastle system, where she worked on several classified research projects for the past months, this ship is shrouded in secrecy. A lot about this ship is classified. Even for the eyes of the BAF and BPA.

Captain Buckley turned his command chair around and gave his orders. '€œHelm avoid the lanes and set course for the Leeds gate". Engineering give me cruise speed towards the gate'€œ Chief engineer Hitchcock made a quick salute and started to work on his controls. '€œActivate cloak and make preparation for stealthmode commander Leigh.'€ The commander quickly nodded and prepared for stealthmode. '€œAthena'€ he referred to the ship's AI. '€œBegin passive scans of the area and report anything suspicious.'€ Yes captain." Then he turned back and started to think about what he would tell at HQ.