Testamant: arrival at luminace base.

The Jackson  09:45 S.E.T

The sleek battle cruiser, came to a silent stop, above the tiny planetoid known as “Luminance base”. Its silver hull, glinting in the pale light of the white dwarf star, that gave light, though little heat, to this relatively small system.
​      ‘This is luminance base, luminance base calling a one, five, zero, four, to the Jackson. You’re in low orbit now, ready for drop ship on your command.’
​       ‘This is the Jackson, ready to drop in T minus thirty minutes and counting.
​        ‘Eerr we recieve your drop-time, why the delay Jackson?’
​        ‘personnel issues luminance.’

On board the ship, in the rest area, an argument was in full swing.
​       ‘…I I don’t know why I need to justify myself to you!’  Draz barke
​        ‘-Oh you don’t do you? How ‘bout all those times I helped you out during your first years of grunt training!’ hissed Kit ‘ Or the-‘
​       ‘-That’s  it, bring that up! You always bring that up!’
​       ‘An’ what about the last time I got leave to Mars…new Paris? Remember that?  “Id be there for you always! What a fucki-
​       Draz turned away ‘-I just wish you could se thin-
​      ‘Wha! see things from your point of view? Your point of view? Hi baba!  I’m captain Drrraaaz!  Coloniser and sperm god of the Betelgeuse  Q-‘
​      ‘-Oh just GIVE ME A BREAK KIT!’
​       The door hissed as it curled  open and Captain  Ferguson stepped into the room
​       The room became quiet as the officers stood at attention
​       ‘You know, you two have been at it since we left the Orphanage. Your worse than a married couple!
​       ‘Sir yes sir!
​       Ferguson  smiled, bitterly, his thin lips pulled back into the weathered cheeks. His  thick  white hair cropped short shone in the pale white light of the canteen.
​       ‘You know most of the crew eat in their quarters because of you two? Mr. Phillamore, I expected more from you.’
​       ‘Sir, it’s a  private disagreement, I am sure that we will find space to resolve it.
​        ‘Mr. Phillamore you have had six light years and one wormhole jump to as you say “resolve it”  that’s exactly four weeks,  five days, nine hours ten minutes and fifty four seconds, and still  you  keep on going!’ There was a thick heavy pause, before Ferguson continued. ‘Mr Phillamore, what is my definition of a happy ship?’
​        ‘A happy ship is a contained ship sir! Arguments left at the door of the cabin. "Work well, eat well, be well, fight well!"'
​       ‘So you did learn something from your time on the Illustrious? That’s good to hear…shame you didn’t bring it with you on board  the Jackson ...Ms O’Donnall…’ Ferguson looked her directly in the eye, until she looked down.  ‘I'm  old fashioned…which is why they are pushing me into retirement two years before my time…I don’t think that female marines make the ship’s crew work well…it’s all that emotional crap you carry. It gets in the way of duty and responsibility.  I am old fashioned… I make no qualms about it.’
​      Jeus, what a sexist prick​ Kit thought.  'But, my dear friend Janice Thrace, thinks the world of you. Yeah, I bet your surprised about that. It would have been good to see –perhaps- the person that she admires, instead of the rather unhappy and angry, yes, angry person that has stalked the corridors of my last command. If I’d known things were this bad between you I’d have had you both put into stasis until the drop…as it was… I don’t have the authority to do so.’  He looked up at the ceiling and then looked down. another heavy pause cut the air.  ‘I am here to inform you, as I have attempted to do over the hailer, for the last ten minutes, that the drop ship is prepped, its crew ready…now if you would be so kind…get the fuck off my ship!’  With that the captain left the room.

The dropship was narrow, dark and cramped. Two rows of eight seats with two in the fronnt.  the select marine team already hooked up and ready to go. Kit took her place between two officers’ she didn’t know, and would never get to know, as they were on rotation from the Orphanage to Luminance on a six month tour. Draz sat opposite her. He tried to stare at her, but Kit looked away, her head riddled with questions  I don’t get it, why he would want to take the mission to the new colony he must have known about it when they were in new Paris, but…
​      There was a disembodied voice coming from the cockpit in the sealed section above
​        ‘Okaayy, now we are all here, a round of applause for our new arrivals,’ there followed a slow clap and a muted cheer.  ‘We’re now prepped and ready for drop. Luminance can you pick us up from our coattails? Over’
​'Ready to pick you up from your tails.' came the reply over the loudspeaker.
​       ‘Okay ready and prepped. Comin’ at ya through the dawn. Luminance.
​         There was a sudden squeal with metal grinding on metal followed by a sudden thwump as a jolt ran though the little craft to the wild sounds of  shouts and applause  followed by a  “Hell Yeah!” as the sudden descent began.
​         A moment later aboard the carrier Kit overheard the babbling of exited discussion between the troops about  ‘keeping the local’s in their place’  ‘Grazzi Fucktard baboons’   and ‘how on my  last tour  here the drugs and the booze were so tainted that it wasn’t worth the coin to get wasted.’
​       The Pilot overtook the cackle of conversation. ‘Okay ladies and gentlemen, we’re in final approach for drop… we should be at the drop point of luminance station in T five and counting. Make sure you take all your personal luggage with you when you leave…I don’t want to answer to Ferguson over the pills, baggies and or other private comestibles that he finds and blames me for.’ Laugher followed.
​       ‘I don’t understand.’ Kit whispered
​        ‘Oh, you will hun,’ came the reply. ‘Officer Dekker reporting. I'm  your designated driver...’ He slipped her a mock terran salute, from the half shoulder. Signifying his disdain for all things Federation.  '... if things fuck up that is, which they inevitably do..’ 

The sleek drop ship slowly extended its narrow wings, as it continued its controlled descent. Its thrusters leaving circular trails of yellow flame through the fiery silver cloud.
​      Ahead rested the tiled plexi-glass domes of Luminance base; its core structure barely visible in the cloudy haze, a pyramidal structure, that Kit could barely make out through the tiny port window.
​       Whassat?’ she asked Dekkard
​       ‘What that tall fucker in the distance? That’s the atmosphere processor. Grazzi keep on attacking it. We have to fend them off. He grinned savagely, ‘It’s what I get paid to do.’
​     The Pilot interrupted over them
​     ‘-Okay luminance I see your vector approach now…would’ya like to rock the baby to sleep?
​      ‘-Err  that’s a negative on being able to rock the baby…
​       Dekkard sighed and with a grim sour smile slammed the unlock button to his left, lifted himself out of the restraint and took the driver’s seat ‘Told you…’ his voice was caustic, though half heard over the reply by Luminance base.
​       ‘… Guidance systems are down due to last major attack by Grazzi.  You’ll have to bring her home on yer own.
​       ‘Shit.. lowering…casket…hey all you grunt’s down there, expect a rough birth...’   There was a shudder within the six wheeled tank as the bay doors lowered. ‘ Hey Guy’s is Dekker awake. He’s a fuckin’ job to do!
​       ‘Affirmative. Ready to go on your mark.  Dekker rhetorted. His seat was lifted into place with a hiss, lights shone anout him.
​      ‘Ok…5…4…3…2…mark… touchdown.’
​        There was a shudder as the ship lurched forward, then a crack, followed by a whump as the mobile carrier took to the dirt road
​       ‘The best of luck’ came the pilots reply ‘Off to run the collection.
​        From her position. Behind and to the left of the driver, Kit saw, through the wide windshield, and the hammering rain, another mobile carrier just ahead.   Her heart leapt as she realised It was reversing at astonishing speed towards them. At the last minute the carrier swerved right of the driver and vanished
​       ‘What the-
​       ‘It’s procedure here.’  Dekker bellowed ‘…Prior to dust-off protocol’s, we used to lose half a contingent, as the bastards used to pick us off.’ The sound of the engine was almost deafening as the carrier bounced
​        ‘Here they come!’ Bellowed Dekker, as out from the mists thousands of javelins and arrows struck the craft, with a cacophony of sound, that reminded Kit of the clattering of rattling saucepans. Then, out of the misty twilight, Kit saw what she later described as three strange, quadruped, blue, hairy ape like creature’s with a huge sloping forehead’s, oversized mouth’s above three wide slit like, yellow hostile eyes. They opened their huge mouth’s revealing yellowing daggers for teeth and from a distance of about ten meters, spat something green upon the windscreen. 
​         The moment it hit the windscreen, it started to crack and bubble.  Dekker hissed a profanity and pressed a large square red button to the left of the steering wheel. The mobile carrier bumped over one of the creature’s she saw two others dive into the tree line.  An alarm sounded.  Masks descended from the ceiling. The crew put them on and pulled them free. They gave Kit and Draz one each.  Kit, released herself from the restraint and joined the driver at the front
​      ‘Welcome to Hell.’ Dekker muttered, with a grin, spittle covering his faceplate, as the carrier bounced violently along the dirt track  ‘1000 meter’s…’ Dekker spat. His chiselled chin pockmarked with scars under stubble tightened. His grey eyes narrowed.
​       There were more of them now, jumping up and onto the craft. from above.
​        ‘Countermeasures!’  Dekker yelled. The belts unlocked  as the crew hit the floor. 
​        Draz was pulled from his seat and violently dragged to the floor. Sudden wails and hideous screams followed. As a blue green fluid fell onto the crumbling windscreen.
​      ‘…500 meters !’ Dekker Bellowed again.  The screaming subsided. But the barrage continued
​        ‘Luminance, Luminance, open the door! The baby is screaming!’
​         Suddenly out of the mist ahead she could see a glittering dome. Its doors closed. They were moving far too fast to stop
​         ‘Luminance! Open the fucking DOOR!’  Laser fire from the dome shot at the  carrier dicharges hit the roof.  Kit swore as Dekker Yelled hollowly, as the windscreen screen finally shattered inwards. Buffets of winds and rain rippled through the carrier.   Kit braced herself for a crash when all of a sudden the door suddenly curled open. And the mobile carrier slid into the hole. And into a waiting net.
​      There was a numb silence 
‘Door sealed. Welcome to luminance base.’ came thw call form outside.
​ ‘Fuck you too Luminance!’ Dekker hissed, as he spat upon the floor.