Mike Edwards

[Dantrithor]

He was sit in the Norfolk shipyards bar, drinking one of those "Liberty ales" so popular among the civilians. His eyes half closed, deeply thinking about his life... about his choice...

- "Mike! Where in the hell are you? You are late on your combat training!" - The familiar voice screamed in his ear from the headset.

- "I am on my way, sir, had to tune my ship's main computer again" - answered softly while heading towads the docking bay.


It was only a couple months ago, when his life gave this unexpected turn. He was working in a security company in Manhattan. He was only a worker, receiving orders. Patrolling this area, chasing that vehicle... a somewhat interesting life, he supposed at the time.

Even while going through those metallic corridors, he could remember the warmth of Manhattan, his flat, everything. And the words from his boss when he was called into his office. - "You will apply for the Liberty Security Forces. They need pilots, and they are recruiting among land security companies personel. You will send your application and await their answer. If we put some of our men up there, we might get beneficts for our company"- And, what else could he do, but to say "Yes, sir".


Now, here was him. A couple months later, in front of his Avenger Very Heavy Fighter. It was a nice ship, responsive to only his commands. Finally, he was looking at something bigger than what he was expected. He entered the ship, and took seat in the cockpit. While turning on the ship system's, his director's voice repeated again that he was late. Like if that was going to accelerate his ship further than what the trade lanes were capable of.

After the clearance, he headed for connecticut, the Liberty combat training area. The jump.. was like all the jumps which preceeded it. He still felt sick while using the jumpgates or wormholes, but couldnt explain the reason. He saw all those LSF pilots, more experienced than him, dancing the death vallet. This only was training, but at the same time, real. He took a place next the other vessels watching the battle as it concluded with one of the ships unable to keep fighting.

-"Now, your turn, Mike. You will fight me"- Fluid, one of his superiors, said.

He situated his ship two kilometres from his rival, and turned to be face to face with him.

-"Ready?" asked Fluid. "Yes, sir" -"Go!"

And the test began.

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