The Final Chapter

[Wolfs Ghost]

Jacobson Apartment Complex, Apartment #405
Planet Manhattan, New York System.

"Eight Sixteen, After Settlement, I'm an Officer in the Armed Forces." He sighed lightly, lifting a box and moving it towards the door, then setting it down ontop of another box. "Eight Seventeen, I'm a Commander in the Armed Forces. Weeks later, I become one of the most wanted people, second only to the Kithe family." He laughed lightly and walked back into the living room, collapsing onto the couch, he sighed lightly. He reached out with his left hand and grabbed an empty beer bottle.

"My story? One that's not worth repeating, though I guess I owe it. Simply starts out as me being an Ensign in the Armed Forces, with dreams of one day leading the fleets into victory against the Kusarians, driving them back, as far as New Tokyo and ending the bloody war. Heh, my little unfortunate incident dubbed me a hero. I was called onto assignment for an escort mission. These things always turn out going down the wrong end of the road. Anyways, a it was a diplomatic mission from Bretonia to Liberty, the Prime Minister was to meet the President for, something. The first half of the escort went according to plan, and the rest of the escort wing was to return to Bretonian space, as ordered by one of our Admirals. I was the lucky one to stay back."

He paused, leaning back in the couch, his eyes stared off into Manhattan City. "You see, the Prime Minister allowed me to stay, and I was granted this Apartment for lease, as well as training on West point for the duration of the stay. Of course, I felt like I was getting pampered, but I didn't let that get to my head. Coming from Cambridge and a farmers family, I knew the value of a credit. Getting back on topic, I knew the duration was short, so I took time to work on the little things with my Paladin. The next day I got word from a runner that the Prime Minister's ship was taking off. So I quickly got down to the space port and met the Yacht in space. I was eager to get back home, and out to the front where my friends were serving."

Pausing again briefly, he swallowed and continued, "Heavily escorted out of Liberty space until we hit the Cortez system. The Libertorian escorts had been called back into Liberty space to deal with a pirate threat in New York. Up until this point I was feeling confident in myself, and managed to even hold a small conversation with the Prime Minister of Bretonia. Something I was going to brag about the next chance I got. Passing through both Cortez and Manchester without a problem. We were almost home when we were dropped from the Manchester Gate to Kensington trade lane. Two Corsair bombers were laying in wait, and I was the only escort ship in the air to respond."

He smiled briefly, "That day I probably fought my hardest. The life of the Prime Minister was resting in my hands. Any other pilot would've done the same thing, but I had a duty to preform, a service to the kingdom, if you will. The last transmission I remember was the Prime Minister saying that he made it, then I pulled the ejection lever. It wasn't the first time. Hell it wouldn't of been the last time either."

"A couple of million credits went down the drain. Thankfully the hospital bill was on the Armed Forces," He smiled again, but it vanished shortly after. "The doctors told me I broke my right leg, someone else thought I wasn't going to make it. I guess I was pretty badly beaten up. They told me that I was out for thirteen days. Probably the best damn sleep I've gotten."

"By this time, it was all over the news. Austin Rodney Goodman. A hero. I would've never thought that I would make it to such a status. Two nights after I wake up, I attend an award ceremony, get promoted to Lieutenant, and receive the Carina's Cross." He said, reaching into his pocket, holding it up, glancing down at it, and rubbing his thumb across the medal itself. "Commodore James Hobart, the one who ordered me to come back to Bretonia with the rest of the escort seemed furious. The old man wanted to punish me for disobeying orders, but the media spotlight was too heavy, and it seemed that I was the perfect person for recruitment."

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