Choices (A Short Story)

TNU Presents: Choices

A short story presented by J. L. Galloway
Written on 06/26/2016 

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Cadet Emily Marie Martinez-Colon
Mars Orbital Training Facility
Personal barracks
08/14/4566, 1000 Hours

The choices we make today, have impact on the decisions of tomorrow. Emily remembered her professor at the Mars Orbital Training Facility, preaching that into her and her graduating class. There was little time left before her graduation.

Graduation was set for September 15, 4566. Most of the graduating class was not yet given any assignments. Emily was a little concerned, graduation was a less than a month away and there was a war going on. the FSF was a serious threat and right now the DFS needed every capable officer out on the front lines.

Emily knew her older brother and older sister were both already on ships. Her sister Mable was the First Officer of the DFS Essex while her brother Dom was the Chief Flight Operations Officer aboard the DFS Lavie. Emily was not sure why a destroyer class vessel needed a CFO, but apparently they did.

The academy never told her that the DFS was trying a new a prototype test pilot program. The reason they did not tell her or any other cadet, was because they did not know. The pilot program was not a secret, but it was not widely spread out information. The only reason Emily knew of the program, because her brother was the test pilot guinea pig.

Emily hoped she would not be picked for a special project like that. She was not really a spotlight like style girl. She was more shy and carried her emotions on the surface. Emily was in the barracks, where she commonly hanged out for the morning break. Typically she would have been deep conversation with several classmates.

However today was a different day, Emily knew that some of her classmates were graduating earlier, a month earlier. There was even rumors she may be graduating with them. But at the moment it was only a rumor.

She sat on her bunk, trying to focus on a novel she was reading, but her mind was distracted. She wondered where classmates were going to be assigned to. She wondered if she was going to be assigned earlier as well. She had a good reason to think she was going to be assigned. She was told to wait in the barracks to called up for a meeting.

She had no idea who she would be meeting with. She just wanted the meeting to get started. Emily hated being in the dark. She needed to get use to the idea, she joined the military and they do not always tell you where you going. She was going to be an officer, and she had a duty, a purpose to full fill.

The intercom buzzed, and broke the silence. "Cadet Emily Martinez, report to conference room 123 beta on the fifteenth flour" called out an unknown voice on the intercom system.

Emily thought to herself. 'Well that's my cue', said Emily as she put the data pad book down and walked out of the barracks and made her to the conference room.

Cadet Emily Marie Martinez-Colon
Captain Samantha Vargas
Mars Orbital Training Facility
Decks 15, Conference Room 123-B
08/14/4566, 1015 Hours

It took Emily longer than she like to reach deck 15. She was outside of the room. The doors were opened and noticed three ladies sitting at conference room table. And just inside the door was a clerk. Emily walked over to the clerk.

"Cadet, the panel is ready to see you" said the clerk.

"Thank you" said Emily as she walked right by the clerk and stood in front of the panel.
"Fourth Year Cadet Emily Marie Martinez reporting for duty" called out Emily as she snapped to the position of attention and saluted at the same time.

The panel saluted her back. Then the lady in the middle of the panel spoke up first. "At ease cadet" simply said the lady who did not introduce herself, however Emily noticed there was a sign on the table next to her that said Captain Vargas.

Emily had no idea who she was, she assumed the Captain was in charge of assigning officers to the DFS Fleet. "your last review, received decent scores" said Captain Vargas as she reviewed a pad, that obviously had data on it, about Emily.

"yes ma'am" said Emily.

"you're the fifth in your class, and your focus was command operations protocols with a minor in flight operations, primarily starship flight operations" said Captain Vargas, it was clear Emily wanted to be a starship pilot.

"Correct Ma'am" said Emily.

"I have an opening on a starship for a helmsman, but I am not sure if it would be wise to place you on that assignment" suggested Captain Vargas.

Emily was not sure how to respond to that comment from Captain Vargas. She stood silent for a moment.

"I believe my service records would suggest Ma'am I am capable of doing the assignment" said Emily.
"I have no doubt about that Cadet, my concern is the ship not your abilities" suggested Captain Vargas.
"I open for a challenge ma'am" said Emily.

"Seems like your whole family is" said Captain Vargas.

Emily was not sure where this conversation was going. She tried not to grin as she said "we are a prideful family, eager to assist in this war for the greater good of the Federation" said Emily.
Captain Vargas chuckled, "spoken like a Martinez and I hope you mean that, I want to assign you to the DFS-02348-A destroyer vessel Lavie, under the command of Captain YUuka Layton, you are going to be assigned under the command of Ensign Sena Rena as a flight control officer, you will be the relief officer on watch and a relief shuttle pilot as well" said Captain Vargas.

Emily wanted a chief billet but it was clear that she was not going to get that. She knew that was her brothers ship. She was confused on why they would assign them both on the same ship.
"this means in some way you will be reporting to your brother, will this be an issue Cadet" asked Captain Vargas.

"No ma'am" said Emily.

"Good, pack your gear, your graduating with tonight's class, better call anyone you want to attend your graduation" said Captain Vargas in a flat tone.

"Will do Ma'am, and thank you for the assignment" said Emily. She was not sure if she should be thanking Captain Vargas or not. Her brother Dom was a bit of a stiff, off hours he was pretty mellow but on the clock he can be a pain in the ass.

Ensign Emily Marie Martinez-Colon
Senator Sarah Gillham-Sanchez
Mars Orbital Training Facility
Decks 100, Multi purpose room
08/14/4566, 2200 Hours

Emily along with the rest of the graduating cadets were invited to private party to celebrate their completion of the academy. They were all told not to be in uniform but to be dressed on black tie affair. The Sensate was send representatives to the party.

This was a little unusual but not unheard of, Emily had no doubt this was probably some promotional gimmick to favor the sensate in some way. Emily was not sure why, and it was really was not her job to care why. The only thing she needed to know was, when to be the event and when she could leave.

Sadly for Emily, her family was not able to attend the graduation or the after party, her Mother was on special assignment and her Father's ship was not due back to port for two weeks. She reached out to the both of them. Her siblings were able to attend the graduation, but they did not stay for the black tie event.

Emily felt a little out of place, this was not her graduating class. Her graduation date was moved up for the best interests of the DFS. She felt a little alone, even the other cadets in her graduating class, they all left already for their assignments. Yet Emily was ordered to attend to the meeting. Since she was ordered she at the party, she would rather be getting some sleep.

Emily had a small stiff drink, it was already her second class, this party was very dull. But it did not take long for the the main guests to arrive. Emily noticed a face she had not seen in a few years walk over to the podium that was on the main stage of the room.

“Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen, military officers and dignitaries, on behalf of the United Federation of Planets Council, The President of the Federation and the oversight committee within in the senate, I would like to thank you all for attending tonight’s festivities” started off Sarah as she continued on “The Federation has asked the senate to help oversee some new technologies being developed to fight the Faith Services Forces or the FSF for short, with you're help and our support we will make the FSF sorry they ever woke the sleeping dragon, (Audience started to clap, then faded shortly after) we will not rest to each last traitor has been located and surrenders and stand trial in front of tribunal” proclaimed Sarah.

The audience started to clap loudly.

“Tonight marks a turning point in the war against the FSF, so many of brothers and sisters have died in this senseless war, we will prevail at all cost, we will be victorious, it’s only fitting that the FSF called themselves a faith fleet, they will see our faith is absolute and our resolve is unquestionably strong, I stand before you, too show you the senate supports this war and together we will defeat one of the greatest enemies of our current generation ” said Sarah as she continued to preach about the war.

“The senate stands with this graduating class of officers, (the audience continues to cheer) as they prepare to go war to protect the sovereignty of the Federation, we are proud of military brothers and sisters I feel it us who them a debt we can never fully repay” said Sarah as the claps continued grow louder.

“The Senate is working with the best scientist and engineers and we are looking for ways to counteract any technical advantages the FSF and create new ways to minimize casualties on both sides of the war, these are our brothers and our sisters we are fighting, we will take this fight to the enemy, we will strive to keep the casualties numbers low, but the job of a military officer is to get the job done at all cost, and come home” said Sarah a she had to pause, the claps were really loud. It was distracting her speech.

Emily smiled as she thought, that Sarah truly had become a politician, she was inspiring to listen too. She remembered the lady who once dated her brother, how far she had come in the past seven years.

The speech went on for a few minutes. Emily could tell the speech was starting to wrap up. “If I can offer you all one piece of advise, please remember the choices we make today, have impact on tomorrow, we fight so tomorrow we can make another choice, and another impact, till the day we win this war” proclaimed Sarah, again the audience started to clap.

She believe this battle was going to be long and dragged out. Darius Maximus was an evil man, and he controlled a large portion of the fleet. Emily was surprised so many corps world's supported him in his hostile attempt take over.

Emily also clapped, mainly out of social protocol and politeness, she was not sure if she agreed with that last line. But it was really not her place to question the logic of a senator. Emily took a sip of her drink.

Sarah noticed Emily in the crowd and walked over to her, “I heard congratulations are in order Emily or should I say Ensign Martinez” said Sarah with a big warm hearted smile.

“Thank you ma’am, congrats on your appointment as Senator” suggested Emily. Gripped on her drink tightly. She took a small sip.

“I love you're dress Ensign Martinez“ said Sarah as she gave it a quick glance over. The dress was multi colored. It was mostly blue with hints of copper and green and looked very elegant on her. The dress was very form fitting. Sarah was very impressed by the dress selection.

“Thank you Senator, you're dress looks very lovely as well” said Emily, trying to get the diplomatic courtesy out of the way. Even though Emily was thin and very fit, she was a bit envious of the body of Sarah, she had a small frame, looked very nice. The dress was very bright in a dark sense, it had some sparkles to it and it was a blue, blue/greenish blend with spots of purple in it. Like Emily’s dress, it was very elegant.

“I hope you do not mind being in your uniform tonight, wanted the mood to be less formal military like” said Sarah. She was trying to ease the tension of the military officers and vip’s.

“Thanks for that, I wanted to play dress up, four years wearing cadet attire, can be a bit tiresome” teased Emily, but it a polite professional way.

“Plus with the war going on, and everyone seems so dire and lost in thought, I knew we needed to loosen everyone, speaking of which” said Sarah as she paused for a moment.

“I need a drink, what are you drinking tonight” asked Sarah.

“Bourbon” said Emily, as she flagged down a waitress.

Sarah smiled at the waitress as she said “Scott on the rocks” asked Sarah.

“Did not peg you Ma’am as a scott gal” said Emily with a grin.

“Nor did I peg you as a bourbon drinker” suggested Sarah as a rhetorical response.

Emily tried to control her chuckle. But she could tell that Sarah had laughed too. She quickly wanted to change the topic. “That was a nice speech Senator Gillman” said Emily, she did not want to say Ma’am all night.

“Thank you Ensign Martinez, listen to us being so formal, but given the venue, I suppose it's a necessary” suggested Sarah, as she wanted to tell Emily to call her by her first name.

The waitress came back with a drink for Sarah.

“I believe it is, Senator” said Emily with a grin.

“Where have you been assigned too” asked Sarah.

“The Destroyer Vessel, Lavie” said Emily, she was still annoyed she was a relief officer. She would have to prove her worth to Captain Layton and her brother.

“Great, we will have a few days to catch up on the Essex, myself along with Senator Candor will be catching a ride,we make a small detour to the Lavie” suggested Sarah.

“We will have to catch up, maybe dinner in my quarters on the Essex tomorrow night” asked Sarah. She wanted to catch up, but out here in public, was not very wise.

“I will page your staff to set an informal dinner” suggested Emily. She was not sure if she wanted to see Sarah, but it was clear that Sarah wanted to see her.

“I’ will talk to you then, I have more guests to mingle with, but I hope you call my assistant, I really do want to catch up” said Sarah.

“I will call your aid, Senator, Till tomorrow, have a great night” said Emily, trying to sound all diplomatic. She hoped she did not sound like she was trying to get rid of Sarah. Emily was tired and did not really want to be at the party. Her orders said she could leave at 2300 hours. Now she needed to wait for the clock to start rolling the time down to 2300 hours.

Emily was alone again, she had a lot to think about. Sarah was right, there was a war going on, and initially Emily joined the military to be apart of the war, and now that the time had come, she was a little scared, but it was a okay to be a little scared.

Emily took a big sip of her bourbon and really thought about what sarah had said. ‘The choices we make today, have impact on tomorrow’ that quote had a strong meaning, a stronger meaning than Emily had first thought. Impressive quote thought Emily.

Emily was now stuck with a choice, to fully commit herself to this war, or to quiver from it and allow it to consume her with fear and doubt, this was an easy choice for her, she would face it head strong.

Emily was a Martinez and they are a prideful family. Emily would not disgrace the family name or herself. She was now committed and she needed to get to her first assignment. Next stop the DFS Lavie. To play a funny prank on her brother, she was not going to tell him that she was going to be assigned to the same ship as him.

The scene starts to end.

The End