Days Gone Past

[Thomas Cromwell]

The following collection of short stories are small glimpses of Thomas Cromwell's life in the Navy. Starting in 799AS with his first assignment up till his retirement and joining of USI, 20 years later.

A New Officer Takes to the Field

Date: May 3rd 799 AS

Rank:

Medals:


Sitting in the cockpit of my new "Guardian" i looked around and felt more at home here then any where else on the ship. I was part of a group of new combat pilots on there first assignment. We had been on the LNS Valiant for nearly a week at this point, my wing leader was Lt. Samantha Williams. She was interesting to say the least, she got along with the other older pilots well, but she did little to hide her dislike of us new bloods. Especially me, since i was the one assigned to her wing.

One of the other wing leaders had told me if i can survive her then i could survive any thing. I had no idea what was about to happen. I thought basic was though, the drill instructors at the academy had nothing on Lt. Williams. She had run me ragged this week, today was our first official patrol, we had been on a few all ready but we where deep in liberty space. Now we where closer to where pirates and Rihanlanders where.

Lt. Williams voice brought me back from my train of thought, "Ens. Cromwell are you going to ready for take off or just sit there staring at it." I practically jumped out of my seat, if it had not been for the canopy i just might have. Firing up my Guardian i took my place in the take off queue, still adjusting things to my liking.

LNS Valiant Ops: "Echo Wing you are clear for take off, and begin patrol."

With that the hanger bay doors opened and we flew out in order, once clear of the docking by we took up formation and set course for the first planed way point. We where in the New Hampshire system, and out first stop was a trip threw the Bethlehem Ice Field. Not only where pirates known to operate in this area we where also close to the front lines.

I was in formation behind LtJG. Palmer as we entered the cloud, first thing to go was long range coms, next sensors dropped down 40% due to the ice. Lt. Williams called for every one to stay frosty and keep your eyes peeled. At first every thing was quite, just a seeming endless field of ice and gas every where you looked.

We first realized we where not as alone as we had thought when Palmers fighter exploded in to a fireball, the tracer fire came from below, then at the same time radar pinged them. I jerked the stick to the right, and the fighter responded instantly, more fire shot past my port wing clipping my shields. If i hadn't moved when i did i would have likely been in no better shape then Palmer.

Radar showed two saber class fighters closing in from below. As i finished rolling to the right the two fighters flew past at full thrust. Splitting apart and each taking after there own target. Williams and her wing-man broke off and went after one of them leaving me to fend for my self. I more or less forgot every thing i had learned in that moment. I pulled up and tried to stick to his tail, it didn't work.

On the upside he wasn't on my tail either. My dodged and weaved threw ice and gas for a good 5 minutes neither of us able to do more then take a few pot shots at each other doing little more then making the shields shimmer. I had lost contact with the other two, at this point we where deep in the ice field.

We lot contact with each other at one point, it was then that my luck changed, i came around a large rock at full burn, and was greeted with the site of his six. I all most forgot to pull the trigger.... all most. The rapid fire volleys from my cannons ripped in to his shields shredding them, then in all most slow motion, i watched as the hard hitting pulses from my dual magma hammers slammed in to his back end all but disintegrating him instantly. He had just enough time to eject, and get nabbed by my tractor.

I cut my thrusters and took a moment to let my hart calm down, seemingly as fast as it started it was all over. Now i faced the fact that i was lost in this god forsaken field. I came about and made for what i though was the right direction. I then opened a channel, "This is Ens. Cromwell, do you read me Valiant? " I got no reply, so set it to repeat. I flew for nearly 20 minutes before i saw any change, i finally broke the field and emerged back in to normal space.

I spent the next hour navigating my way around using local plants, when my radio crackled with a weak transponder signal. It was an emergency beacon, from one of the other Guardians. I got a lock on its direction and made my way to it at maximum thrust. After a few minutes the remains of a badly damaged Guardian came in to view it was LtJG. Smith, Lt.Williams wing man, he wasn't responding via radio.

I brought my fighter in close along side his, at this range the blood splattered on the inside of the canopy was hard to miss. There was also no movement or life signs being picked up. I used my tractor to bring in his escape pod and once again made my way back to the carriers last known coordinates.

I finally received a return message it was a little garbled but it was the carrier. With a fix on it now i made for a full burn and 23 minutes later was receiving docking clearance. I was greeted by Lt. Williams and a security detail to take the prisoner. I thought the elT was going to yell at me for a moment, i was surprised to say the least by what did happen.

She grabbed my shoulders and held me at arms length, "We though you where lost just like the others. Never have i been so happy to see a new blood." With that she patted my shoulder be for seeing to her dead man and the pilot.

We would later find out we had been jumped by to highly skilled aces working for a new upstart pirate group called the black suns. They had killed at least 6 other navy pilots that we knew of. I received great praise for capturing the pirate. Lt. Williams took me under her wing after that as well.

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