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MY NAME IS DUCHESSA Venlent. I volunteered for service in the 160th out of a sense of need for something more. I completed my education just after age sixteen, I was in my third year of university when I accepted my commission under Colonel Valentine.
I’ve gone places, trained, and learned things I would not have learned in university or anywhere else. My parents were very simple, even if we were reasonably comfortable in our place in the economy back on Vandor, we farmed from the land and helped others to eat healthy foods that our strong people require.
I have no regrets about accepting my position under the Colonel. He is the epitome of what our people should be, even if he is somewhat animalistic and violent, and it goes without saying, he’s an asshole.
Glancing at the disgruntled and disgraced Wingell, however, I began to wonder about our purpose out here. Vearse and I should have been on the front line, fighting against the Phelbs. We were trained for that. Vearse looked more the part than I did, burly, prematurely grey at only age twenty, scarred and quiet. Peter Stevin was a different matter. Young, bright and overly brave, he had absolutely no business being here. He was a Phelb, a defector, who Destota had given a rank and allowed to stay with us due to his knowledge of the enemy and his willingness to give them up.
“What is our heading, Sergeant?” I asked of Stevins.
He glanced at me, his eyes softer and more drifting than I usually appreciate. “I don’t know.” He looked at Wingell. “What is our heading, Wingell?”
“We’re heading towards Orion.” He replied, moving maps and ancient charts around on the deck. “Yes. Orion.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Pray tell, Mr. Wingell, why are we heading towards an ancient earth constellation?”
He looked up, then sat back on one of the chairs in the bulkhead of the small shuttle. “On earth, several ancient civilizations built their cities and temples in honor of Orion. Their structures mimicked the star formation.”
“And?”
“And that, dear girl, is what is called a lead. We are chasing a lead.”
“More like chasing ghosts,” Vearse grumbled from across the cabin. “How do you even know we’re going to find these.... whatever they are?”
“I don’t.” Wingell replied. “But I know that we have to try.”
“What is our ETA?” I ask.
“We’ll reach Orion in just under sixteen hours and begin our search.”
“Very well.” I glanced at my chronometer. “Everyone gets some sleep.” Vearse shut off the lights and I laid back into my makeshift bunk. Someone stirred next to me and I opened my eyes to see Stevin in the dim light. “You’re in my bunk.” I said simply.
“I wasn’t aware we’d called bunks.”
“I’m the Lieutenant. I always get best bunk.”
He chuckled. “Well, yes ma’am. He climbed out of the bunk behind me and up one level onto his own. I heard a deep sigh as I closed my eyes. “Do you think we’ll find anything out here, Lieutenant?”
“No idea, Stevin. No idea.”
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