Chapter 17: WarpStar
Alpha Centauri
5 Months after Sol Invasion
The system nation of Alpha Centauri stands as the most ancient polity beyond the Sol system within the Federation. Being the closest solar system to Sol, it was the first to be colonized during the monumental era of interstellar expansion that reshaped humanity's destiny. The nation is home to an astounding population of approximately fifteen billion citizens, spread across two habitable worlds and an intricate network of numerous space stations that orbit the celestial bodies. This System-Nation was the pioneer colony established as part of the grand interstellar colonization campaign and has flourished into a thriving, self-sufficient community, complete with a military force that is both vast and formidable. The Centauri military has garnered a reputation as the mightiest in the Federation, rivaling even the renowned Great Martian Military in strength and prowess, a fact that instills both pride and trepidation among its citizens.
Orbiting Alpha Centauri A, also known by its official name, Rigil, is the epicenter of the Centauri government’s power, a place where decisions that could alter the fate of billions are made. Centauri Prime, a planet that had evaded the scrutiny of astrophysicists throughout history, was only uncovered during the Colony mission, revealing its lush landscapes and vibrant ecosystems. Encircling Centauri Prime is the most elaborate artificial planetary ring ever crafted by humankind, a testament to human ingenuity and ambition. This magnificent ring, stretching an impressive fifteen kilometers in width, encompasses the planet's equatorial axis and serves every conceivable need of its citizens. It functions as a bustling hub, facilitating freight staging bays for transport to and from the planet, Intersystem Freight Hopper harbors, civilian living quarters, and military dry docks and repair facilities. This singular structure replaces the necessity for multiple orbital space stations that typically clutter the skies of a Federation planet, creating a streamlined environment that enhances both efficiency and aesthetics.
For John, this was his inaugural visit to the advanced system, and he found himself watching in awe as ships gracefully departed from and arrived at the ring, with hoppers darting back and forth to the planet below in a stunning display of coordinated movement. It was a mesmerizing spectacle, akin to a symphony of perfectly orchestrated travel, with the Ring serving as the central hub of activity. John had never witnessed such a flawless execution of traffic management, where civilian, commercial, and military vessels all moved in perfect synchrony, each respecting the intricate ballet of the skies. There were no delays, no congestion, and no issues of any kind hovering over the planet; it felt more like a concept from science fiction than a tangible reality. He chuckled to himself, recalling that even the best days back on Earth would inevitably involve at least three collisions among various ships. The sheer ability of civilians to overlook the massive freight hoppers in orbit never ceased to astonish him, and somehow, it always seemed to fall on the hopper pilots to bear the blame. Somewhere within civilian flight training, there had to be a lesson teaching young pilots that maneuvering a fifteen-hundred-ton freighter was somehow less complicated than handling their twenty-ton personal Ford hopper.
"No scotch?" Char asked as she settled onto the observation couch beside John, her eyes glinting with curiosity that belied her casual demeanor.
He didn’t turn his head to acknowledge his friend; instead, they both remained focused on the vast view outside the expansive windows, lost in contemplation and the weight of their thoughts. "No, I can't. It just feels wrong," he replied, the gravity of their situation weighing heavily on his conscience.
"Yeah, I understand. I just brought a coke; I can’t afford to be drunk when the call comes in," Char replied, taking a sip of her drink while John sipped his tea, each feeling an undercurrent of discomfort as they lingered in the lounge area, acutely aware of the ongoing invasion of their home system, a shadow that loomed over their every interaction.
"Have you ever been here?" John ventured, attempting to steer the conversation away from the palpable tension that had lingered between them since their unexpected kiss—a moment that threatened to alter their careers irreversibly and left them both pondering its implications.
"No, this is the last system in our hyper-net that I have yet to visit," she admitted, her voice tinged with a mixture of excitement and regret, as if she were mourning the adventures they could have shared.
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"Remember our racing days, Char? This would have been a blast!" John closed his eyes, enveloped in memories of their high-octane times at the academy, when he had endeavored—and ultimately failed—to reclaim the title of Ace Pilot from Char, who had always been a step ahead.
"Picture this: slingshot around Rigil, shoot over to Toliman, feeling the blood drain from my spine as I darted toward Proxima at over six Gs, then slingshot around Proxima to see who can reach the asteroid belt first!" Char animatedly described her vision of an exhilarating race course within the system, starting at the primary star, swinging around the second star in the binary set of Alpha Centauri, and culminating in a long flight to Proxima Centauri before finally racing to the asteroid belt that orbited the trinary stars nearly 2,000 AU from the system's center, her enthusiasm infectious.
"I think the correct statement for that would be: who would survive? That's a long time at high-Gs," John finally turned to face her, his heart lifting as he caught sight of her striking red hair cascading down her shoulders for the first time in what felt like ages, a vivid reminder of their shared history.
"Oh please, your pansy ass can't handle two Gs for more than a few minutes. I clocked you out back in the day, remember? Eight Gs for twenty minutes!" she teased, a playful glint in her eyes that hinted at the camaraderie they had built over years of friendship.
"There she is!" John grinned, relishing the demise of the awkward tension that had enveloped them, grateful to reconnect with his best friend after so many long months apart, the warmth of their banter easing the strain of the situation.
Char blushed at the compliment but quickly shifted the topic, still not entirely comfortable returning to her old flirtatious self, perhaps fearing that old feelings might resurface. "So, what's the word with the Vice President? Do we think we have enough firepower here to stop the assholes?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I don't know," John said, his voice laden with worry as he turned back to the viewport, a wave of fear washing over him. "Without communication with Sol, I have no idea what the Vice President will decide. By default, he now holds ultimate power." The founding members of the Federation had never envisioned a scenario like the one they now faced—one that left the transfer of power unaddressed and the fate of humanity hanging in the balance. With the destruction of Orion, Alpha Centauri stood as the sole remaining nation capable of hosting the seat of government if Sol were to fall. The constitution was silent on the matter of Congress, granting the highest official in the executive branch near-unlimited authority in emergency situations. Vice President Chancy Adams was now positioned to wield ultimate authority while assuming control in Alpha Centauri, a reality that filled John with unease.
"I don't know; Adams has always struck me as a pompous ass, but I never imagined her turning into a tyrant," Char mused, her brow furrowing as she considered the implications of such power in the wrong hands.
Before John could respond, a voice rang out from behind them, "It's happening! Turn the net on to any channel!" A significant portion of the viewport shifted to an opaque state, revealing a news broadcast that interrupted their conversation. The seal of the President of Alpha Centauri, prominently displayed alongside the seal of the Vice President of the Federation, dominated the screen, a stark reminder of the gravity of their situation. After a few anxious seconds, a woman's voice resonated, "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of Centauri."
A man who appeared to be in the twilight of his life approached the podium, flanked by Vice President Chancy Adams, who stood to the side, a stoic presence behind the man, his expression unreadable. "Good evening, citizens of Centauri. It has come to our attention, thanks to the valorous souls aboard the Federation Warship WarpStar and the Vice President herself, that we face grave news regarding Sol. We lost communication with our home system nearly two months ago, and now we understand why. Unfortunately, Sol has been invaded by the same alien civilization that perpetrated genocide against our brothers and sisters in Orion and our comrades in the Republic system of Andronov. This alliance of alien worlds has attacked us unprovoked, and we must act swiftly to halt the devastation of our homeworlds. If we fail to stop their atrocities, they will turn their sights on us, and all of humanity risks extinction. Alpha Centauri is now the seat of government for the Federation; we are humanity's last hope! I have called upon our nation’s Congress to commit fully to the war effort and have requested that all Centauri military personnel and assets be activated. We will stop this invasion; we will put an end to this genocide; we will avenge every Republic and Orion citizen lost! We will fight not just for Centauri, not merely for the Federation, but for all of humanity!"
The President's speech continued for several more minutes, inciting cheers and fervent cries for war from the assembled spectators, their passionate responses echoing in the lounge. John and Char exchanged glances, taking in the sight of their best friend in civilian attire for the first time in months, the weight of their unspoken love for each other simmering just below the surface once more. And once again, they both suppressed what they felt, absorbing the beauty of the moment before them, fully aware that it might be the very last time they would share such an experience together, their hearts heavy with the knowledge of the uncertain path that lay ahead.