Chapter 1 Shadow

Finally, after two months of holding the Alliance Forces, they sounded a retreat. As the Alliance turns and retreats, I look over as Hammer says. “Lieutenant” “What is it Sergeant” “Sir, command is sending a shuttle to pick you up, they want debriefed on the battle.” “Very well, Sergeant I want you to come with me, need you to organize a resupply for the platoon.” When I look out at what is left of the platoon, some of who survived often surprises me, like private Willey, he was a timid and often seen as somewhat cowardly, that reminds me… Private Willey is to receive the Independent Star. I will take great pride in presenting, him with that. “Sergeant Hammer” “Yes, Sir.” “When we get to Central Command remind me about Private Willey.” “Check, Sir.” “While I got you here, call the platoon to formation.” “Will do, Sir.” I walked to the platoon and Sergeant Hammer took her place with the Platoon. “Phantom 309 at ease, I would like to congratulate each and every one of you. These past two months have been hard, but we sent those cowardly Purple Bellies packing. We have been through a lot together. I have witnessed this platoon come together as a unit. The death of Lieutenant Warsaw was hard on us all. I have seen soldiers grow into true fighters of the Independence. For my first command, I could not ask for a better group of soldiers. I have seen some conquer their fears; others rush of to fight when they should stay put. A Private may have second, guessed my first impression. This individual, I first thought to be the cowardly type, then display an act of bravery. While under enemy fire, charged to rescue Lieutenant Warsaw. He picked him up and ran 950 meters to medical. This soldier, Private Willey front and center” The platoon gasped in shock as the private walked forward. “Central Command has informed me that General Westland will be coming to present the Independent Star one of the Army’s highest awards, and also I have been approved to promote you to Corporal. This is for your bravery in trying to reach Lieutenant Warsaw.” As Corporal Willey stood there, I offered him a well-earned handshake. “Corporal, looks like you are going to be in charge for a while.” As I looked up I seen the shuttlecraft was descending. “Corporal the platoon is yours, give them a three days off.” Upon handing the platoon the Corporal, the sergeant and I headed to the now landed shuttlecraft. When I entered I heard a familiar voice, on I have not heard sense being assigned to Shadow. “Sergeant Hall, Corporal Hammer what I are you doing here, I was for a Lieutenant and Sergeant.” “Corporal Acer that is right, I received commission on the battlefield after Lieutenant Warsaw tried to move while taking heavy fire. So what do you say we get off this rock and go find out if there is anything else that General Westland wants shall we.” “Alright Sir, you might want to hold on,” with that ol’ Ace took off like whirlwind. No, doubt trying to prove how good of a pilot, he had become. “Ace, what are you doing” “Sorry Sir, but you might want to hang on breaking atmo in five, four, three, two, and one.” As Ace said one, the planet below lit up in a bright fireball flash, and tossed the shuttle about. As I looked out the window, then a silent scream of terror swept over me. Then all at once, I sapped to. “Wong Ba Duhn. Ace take us back down.” “Sir I can’t.” “I don’t want to hear I can’t, Ace my platoon is down there I need to see if there are survivors left.” “Sir, sensors are not detecting any, I am sorry but getting a message to report to Command” As I sat there, the thoughts of what happened plagued me. My platoon was gone taken by the Alliance, and they will pay….and pay they will. Then all of a sudden, the silence stopped “Sir, Sir we are here.” “Oh, very well, give me a quick moment would ya.” I sat in that shuttle for what felt like an eternity, which ended up being only a couple of minutes. I then proceeded to General Westland’s office. When my hand touched the doorknob, I awoke in a cold sweat. I quickly looked around. I caught my breath a few seconds later. Then realizing, I was in my cell. Just then, an alliance fed opened my door. “Prisoner chowtime, move it.” I got up still covered in sweat, and wiped my brow. “It’s Lieutenant, or Sir I am still an Officer,” I said with sternness. I got a quick second to look over his uniform. “Got that, corporal.” A smirk quickly glanced across my face as I spoke to the fed in discuss. Together, the days and nights blended, until one day. News of the defeat at Serenity Valley swept through the camp at a speed that made wildfire look the snail. The routine of life in this camp often makes me wish I were still on the battlefield. The days bring peace as I recall the people I met. Then the night brings the terror, the terror of what happened on Shadow, and the loss of my platoon. Gore am feds, bouncing around here celebrating. Like, they have reason to be happy. Those purple bellies think they can aggravate me anymore than they have already. Makes a riot, sound like a good idea. I might even be able to use that to help some of us Browncoats escape. With the news of how the Army held Serenity Valley, reached even us here in Purgatorio. The shattered details about Serenity Valley, granted even though it was a defeat, I know the Independent Coalition will not surrender. Those of us on the cellblock have been whispering the details, right under the feds noses. Word of a Sergeant Reynolds and the Bullets and Bayonets had given us hope that the war might end soon. Now the news of their defeat has brought a somber feeling, to all of us. Sergeant Hays is getting me some home brew; he says it will help me sleep at night. I returned to my cell, finding the present left by Hays. I slowly enjoy the glass Hays left, the idea I might sleep a full night is refreshing. However, I need to start working on a plan, a plan to get out of here. The longer I stay is one more reason the Alliance has given me not to sleep at night. I have been here to long, I need to get back to Verbena and back to Bell. I started watching, evaluating, and planning the perfect escape route, there was a hole in the laundry room floor. The Alliance put a cover over it. Wait a second, Hays works in the laundry. I sat there for the next hour working out the details, waiting for the feds to open up the day room. This morning was different I slept through the night. The nightmares still there, still real, but I am sleeping more. I have to get some more of Hays brew. Finally the sound of buzzer, that that announces the start of the morning day room. I sat at center table, gave a signal to Hays. He walked over and motioned a few others to sit around us. The accompaniment of people playing cards and drawing provided ample cover as Hays and I planned. I said to Hays, “I need you to use your contacts over on Block Three.” “Please Sir, tell me what you are what your planning.” “Hays, I am going to get us out of here. That however will not be easy. First, we need to locate the hole in laundry, the alliance seal. Then we will need to rig the locks, so we can open them, that means the laundry as well.” “Sir, how do you even know the hole is there?” “I overheard some feds talking about how they dropped a cover on it instead of filling it properly. They hurried the job to avoid to issues with their command structure.” “So, then what happens next Sir” “That is where your contacts in Block Three, comes in. Once everything is in place, give them the queue to start rioting. Then when the feds rush over to Block Three to stop them, we make a break for it. Should bye us a window from three to five minutes. That depends of the reaction time and how big of a fuss everyone over on Three makes. That means we will need to move fast. So the cover needs to located and ready to open. Everything goes right you, me, and about eight others have a chance to get out of here.” “So, I locate, open, and prepare the opening in laundry, and during this time, who is going to be fixing the doors that will be making it possible to for us to make the break?” “I don’t know anyone who can do that, so I am going to need someone who can help. That will mean they are going to take a spot in the group that escapes with us.” I spent that few days watching my fellow Browncoats. Must be careful, not sure if everyone here isn’t some Lun Dong Shi informant. I would hate to think that one of my fellow Browncoats would tip off the feds to an escape plan, but still caution is called for. Little did the feds know, I was commissioned on the battlefield, which landing An Officer with a cellblock of enlisted P.O.W. Perfect set up to run interference with the feds. I keep the enlisted people men inline, which keeps the fed presence to a minimum. So on little oversight by the feds is my best opportunity. Been very slow this last week, I noticed one of the men on the block. He works maintenance, could be the perfect recruit to help with the escape. With that maintenance, job the chance of him turning on us increases. I am to going to keep an eye on him next couple of days. Hays has yet to find the hole. Still I have to get out here, I was out of the army when I was brought here. My war was over, and still to be fought. I have to get back to Bell. She is it, the one the special person the Alliance cannot take from me. The look in her eyes when I left for the war has become the only thing to keep me going. Thanks to Hays, I have been able to sleep at nights. The nightmares keep haunting me. That bright flash of swallowing darkness still plagues the night. I have been keeping an eye Mr. Maintenance for a week now. This means it is time to see if he is on the level, or not. Means I need to Hays on board, to be my control subject for this test. This morning was different as the buzzer to open the dayroom sound and my hand met the door. I was taking back, and remembered entering General Westland’s office. Walking into the Office I offer the General a firm, disciplined salute. “Sir, Lieutenant Hall reporting as ordered” “Carry on Hall; I got word of what happened on Shadow. It was a tragedy, my condolences on the loss of your platoon. Your actions fixed what your predecessor almost cost us Shadow. Therefore, your battlefield commission went through, you are an official officer now and you are here by promoted from Second to First Lieutenant. Now another matter seems your term of service is up. Now the question remains, do you wish to stay and continue the fight with the Alliance, God knows we can use a good officer like you. “Sir, I gave two good and loyal years to the Independence. Truth be told, at this point all I want to do is return to the lady who is waiting on me, back on Verbena. I have been away from her to long as it is. Lord knows she never wanted me, to leave in the first place.” “Sense I can’t talk you into staying, I can at least give you this.” The General handed me a small maple box, the top had an inlay of silver depicting the cross of the earth that was, the corners, and the opening was covered in gold. I opened it up, and looked inside. I heard the General once more “The Star of Valor Lieutenant, for your actions and leadership in the face of overwhelming odds. You stepped up turn the tide of battle, which many in the command room had thought lost. Further your actions inspired Private Willey” “Corporal.” “What was, that” “It’s Corporal Willey; I was authorized to promote him before I reported to you” “No, I mean what was that Lieutenant. Are you trying to interrupt ME as I talk.” “Yes Sir, guess I am.” The anger in my voice was, noticed “Corporal Willey” gave his life for the Independence. While I was being shuttled up here, I had to watch my platoon, MY PLATOON get wiped out in front of me SIR. So lets’ give the Corporal the respect he is due.” “Well then you inspired the Corporal to risk his own life to try and rescue Lieutenant Warsaw. With your skill behind a rifle, you supply dead on cover fire. That made the only way the Alliance could move was backwards. Now word of Shadow is spreading and uniting Browncoats across the Verse. So your platoons death while tragic, maybe what it takes to stop the Alliance.” “With all due respect, SIR My platoon is not propaganda.” Then in a rage of darkness silenced to room. Before I knew it, I was looking down at the General. “As you already stated my war is over. So I am going home, I am going back to Bell.” I walked out into the dayroom; Hays walked over with an extra tray of formed and pressed protean. They feed the stuff to us, day in and day out. I should have been home now; guess wearing my issued overcoat to stay warm is enough to be arrested anymore. I did not even get a chance to show my discharge papers. “Sir, Sir hey you with us this morning” “I should have been home by now” “What Sir” “Oh, just in my own thoughts for a moment” “Sir, I found it” Hays said in a whisper “Good, I need you for a test. To see if the maintenance man is on the level. What I want to you to do is moving anything related to the escape plan to my cell. Then I will tell him that you are planning an escape. Then wait, if the feds come looking for any plans then we find someone else.” I replied in a whisper. “Not a problem Sir, I will let you know when everything is ready to proceed.” Hays wasted no time in getting his cell prepped to throw off the feds. While I arranged a chance meeting with the new recruit to the plan. Then the perfect opportunity arouse. We bumped in to each other as we headed to the breakfast protein ration. “Oh, sorry about that, I am the Lieutenant” Yes Bishop Hall Phantom 309, stationed on Shadow. Liberty Station, to be exact. Awarded the Star of Valor, for holding your ground in what seemed impossible odds. So yes, I know who you are. When he finished I was taken back some. “Seems you have the advantage here, you know who I am. How do you know who I am?” “I am Sergeant Walters, I process your discharge. I also know that your activity on Shadow had been classified. Seems the Alliance had a top-secret program there, which they refused to acknowledge. So command buried it, then spun a propaganda campaign around the incident. Stating the alliance bombed Shadow for other reason then, they could.” “So I caught wind of an escape plan. Have you heard of this.” I leaned in and whispered softly. “Lieutenant I was one of the people who blocked the view, as you made the plan with Hays. So to save you, your next question, yes I am in.” Over the couple of weeks, Walters and Hays made their preparations. I studied the reaction time, of the feds. I even shared some of the brew I got from Hays to get a couple of the other prisoners drunk, and rowdy. Hays, Walters, and I planned events to keep the purple bellies busy. Everything from a fight in the mess hall, to medical emergencies, even attacks of the feds. Many Browncoats tried to volunteer for that part. Therefore, I watched and I watched the feds; I did more the watch, I studied how they responded. How they moved and reacted to the situations I had staged, as I figured. So we tested and probed the feds movement in the facility became increasingly harder. I also noticed that feds workload also increased. So I had arranged for the hostilities to come to a minimal. Just enough sporadic events, to keep the increased workload upon the feds. Therefore, under my guidance we waited. Playing games, toying with the feds, watching them dance like a doll, on a string. Walters, and Hays kept me informed as we, wore the feds down. The next months, we treaded carefully not to draw attention to ourselves. All the while, watching bringing the moral down until even the feds that once were meticulous in their duty now, just do what barely required. Hays found me one morning. “Sir, is it time?” “It is.” “So, what time do we move.” “This evening, Fifteen minutes after block three, has returned to their dorm. That will put us closer to the laundry.” “I shall let my people know, they are prepare to help us.” “Make sure Walters knows of the change.” “Sir, do we have to take Walters?” “What, Hays yes we must take Walters, we couldn’t have made it this far without him.” “Sir its Walters, I believe he may have let the plan slip” “Hays, No one that has helped me so far is getting left. You got that, no one.” “But, Sir.” “Wong Ba Duhn, No this is not a conversation we are having. Because nobody, and I mean nobody is being left. Got it.” “Copy that Sir” I heard the discontent in Hays voice. Immediately I began to wonder if Hays would go turncoat on me. “Hays are we going to have issues.” “No, Sir” “Look, I not know what issue you have with Walters, but I recommend that you put them behind until we get out of here. Now Hays I need you to focus on the plan. Walters, and myself need you to come through for us. Plus, there are seven other Browncoats that we can help get out of this Ai Yah Tien Ah.” “Right Sir, forgive me for suggesting otherwise.” That turned out to be the last of the conversations we had on the topic. The rest of the day we went about our business. Walters, Hays, And I went to the lunch ration like normal. The air of betrayal seemed to linger as sat there. The waiting for everything to kick off seemed to drag on. Time began to drag seconds seemed like minutes that turned into hours, the eternal moments tick ever slowly by. Then in the time between Lunch and Dinner, then what I feared would happen did. The prisoners on block three kicked off their brawl. First thought I had, Hays screwed with the plan. But no time for that now, now is time to run. The feds took off for block three, as I had hoped. Walters, Hays, and I flung our doors open. Seven other Browncoats joined as planned. Walters lived up his part as hoped, and what had been plan A and was put to the back burner, was in place to save us. With the doors unlock we slipped out and headed to the laundry. The exit off our cellblock seemed easy enough. The staged riot was buying us the time we needed. All the feds where trying to lock cellblock three down. My contingent and I started down the hall to our freedom, and Bell waits. The Laundry door did not open as planned. “Walters, what happened I thought this door was fixed.” “Sir, seems another maintenance crew, brought it back to fed standards.” “Walters I need that door open, I don’t know how much longer the fight can keep the feds busy.” “Not to worry Sir, I got it. It’s open. Lets’ get out of here, if Hays did his part.” “My part is done” I heard Hays proclaim. While the to be freed Browncoats moved the cover stone to their freedom, I keep watch for returning feds. Then I heard Hays say “Sir, we got it open, time to go.” I replied “Get everyone out first, I will make sure the feds don’t find out what is going on.” As Walters and Hays made it in to the hole, I heard it. The silence, on cellblock three sent a chill down my spine. Then in that split second, I did the only thing possible. I pull the cover stone back over the hole. Then closed the Laundry door, behind me Bell in that moment I thought I might never see again. I knew I had to get away from the Laundry area before I let the feds know I was around. I slipped through the halls so quiet I startled a mouse. Stealth I learned in basic, might just save me one more time. Then I slip around a corner and there was six alliance feds. I thought about fighting, but the odds not in my favor. Then I decided to rabbit. The alliance gave me about twenty feet, before taggin me with a sonic stun gun. Next I remember, I was waking up in a segregation cell, the aches in my body meant to make me think twice before miss behaving again.

Chapter 2 Perdition

While in the isolation chamber, I once again found myself at the cruelty of the Alliance. Morning after morning seemed to be the same. The doors open, a feds zaps me a few times with his issued stun gun. That often leaves the victim in this case being me, almost in tears. By nighttime, the pain would subside and allow sleep. Until one day the when only the flap was opened for my ration of pressed protein. This went on for about a week. I tried to listen in on the guards conversations, radio traffic. One morning about five combat dressed purple bellies, armed with stun guns opened my door. I looked at the team leader “what’s the meaning of this.” “Hall get up, you’re being moved to another facility.” “Really now, I think I like it here.” “I was hoping you would say that, means the boys and me get to do things the other way. I am sure you know … what that means” “I know, I know,” I said as I got up and put the rest of my clothes on. “So where am I going now. Are you letting me go home, finally? Did someone realize I had been DISCHARGED,” my voice revealed my displeasure with the situation. “Discharged, you really.” The fed officer mocking tone boiled my blood a little. Glad to see the Alliance still had some fight in them. So, I tried but couldn’t keep my mouth shut. As I put my boots on, I plopped back on the wall mounted bed. “YES, really” I exclaimed, “I see you Gore Am purple bellies only know how to fight when it is what, eight to one. How very brave I am sure the Alliance will do a great job running the verse. Why fight for independence, it’s such a silly idea indeed.” My mocking tone was quickly met with stun gun blast. I lost count after four. Then they slammed the door and walked away. This I found odd as I sat there with every muscle fighting to contract. However, the pain passed faster than normal. I believe the let me stew awhile, again to make me second-guess doing that. Then I awoke probably a week later, and there stood the fed officer and his goons. The perfect escape plan began to run through my head. Step one go with the feds to the transfer shuttle. Step two while walking along with the feds; identify the easiest one to disarm. Step three quickly take the feds stun gun. Step four target the officer, then the rest of the goon squad. Finally jump in the shuttle and fly off. “So Hall shall we try this do this the hard way again.” “Well you know us Browncoats love to send you piss ant purple bellies, running with a yellow trail behind you. Considering the fact, you have the fellas with you. We can do this the easy way this time. I stood up and calmly and started toward the door. The fed in front of me, I watched carefully. He yawned constantly, maintained a weak grip on his weapon. The perfect mark, he is the one I attack. When I make my move, I need him for a shield. Should by me a couple shots, and if I am lucky my freedom. The plan raced through my head. Taking in every detail, from the number of feds, to their positioning. I worked the details out as we walked down the hallway to the first set of doors. The moment my plotting had been waiting for. I was lead through two sets of doors. The first set closed, before the next set of doors opened. As the next set of doors opened the first rays of the sun, was blinding. Taking what moments, I had to let my eyes adjust. Once the glare had passed, there it was the shuttle. My hope and last chance, to get back to Bell. I waited patiently for the fed in front to let his stun gun fall to his side by its strap. As the fed opened the shuttle door, I knew it was time. I grabbed the feds gun, and in the moment, I swung him around. I planned correctly; the fed took the first two shots. I returned fire, and watched my captors fall to the ground. The exchange of weapons fire until only the officer and me was standing. I knew I had to end this fast. Either backup is going to show up or the rest of the escort team is going to get up and join back in. “Hey, your bye yourself, sure you don’t want to run get some more of the goons to fight for you.” “You Browncoats, you’re coming to an end. Serenity Valley, your war is all but lost.” “Long as the spirit of freedom lingers in the verse, the Alliance has lost.” The fed and I continued to exchange insults until, my big break his eyes shifted off me for a split second. That moment, that split second lasted an hour. I squeezed trigger, then the officer fell to the ground, if only passed out. This was it, everything I been hoping to do. I climbed into the shuttle. There it was the pilot chair and my ticket home. I started to look for the ignition switch. The controls were overwhelming. That moment it hit me, I jumped in over my head. I sat there a little longer working on taking off. As I started to panic, I had seen it, the switch. I gave it a turn and the engine started up. I tried to get the shuttle to lift off. As I pulled the controls to lift off, the control panel began to buzz. I looked over the screen was flashing red, and had read land locked. I was stuck. Then as I sat there trying to override the land lock, I failed to hear the door open up. When all of a sudden, I was quickly reminded, why you lock the door. As felt the sting of the stun gun once more. There I sat, for weeks. The cold dark Isolation cell, the Alliance took extra care to keep any contact away from me. My cell stayed dark, the rest of the time I was in Purgatorio. Then one day as I sat on my bunk, I overheard to the feds as they cheered the end of the Unification War. It took a moment then it hit me. The Alliance won, and the war was over. I was able to hear a member of the Alliance Parliament speaking to the feds. “The Independence has surrender, with the negotiations almost complete we need to start prepping the prisoners for release.” “Sir, how are going to get them off of the planet, and still keep its location secret.” “Well Commander, that is simple. Use your transfer ships only windows are for the pilots.” “What will be the final destination Sir?” “Seems a peace accord, will be getting signed on the planet Verbena” Verbena the thought that the war is over, the treaty being signed is on my home planet. Finally, God has given me back the last thing I have. The thought of Bell, the first time I seen her. The feeling was odd, the first time in years I had hope that I can once again hold her in my arms. To look deep in her eyes, to know I am back with the person I truly love. To tell her she was right, I had no place trying to fight a war. Still the news I am going home soon. I closed my eyes took a slow deep breath as I exhaled, I could feel a burden be lifted. It seemed like my heart almost sang out, with just the thought of seeing her again. This feeling seemed odd, distant but welcomed even. Still how can explain to Bell that the reason I had to go and fight and the reason I wanted to stay, are the same. I laid there, in the darkness when the announcement came across the prison intercom system. “Attention all prisoners, Attention all prisoners, the Unification War is over. The Unification War is over. First thing in the morning the prisoner release processing will begin.” Purgatorio has a constantly cold, but that night, oh that night felt warmer than Boros in the spring. Then next morning I was released from the isolation cell. I returned to my former cellblock. Many were surprised that I had comeback. One of the prisoners, that ways there before my first escape attempt. “Rory, how are you keeping things under control around here in my absence?” “Lieutenant, I thought you made it to the outside, maybe even off this rock.” “I wish I had, but the Alliance started back from cellblock three early, so I got everyone else through and closed the hole. Then I ran, to keep them from discovering where everyone escaped. So, my misdirection while successful, also landed me in isolation. Then I was to transferred to another prison, when that happened I tried to escaped again. Could have made it too, if it wasn’t for the land lock.” “Well Sir at least you will get to go home now.” “Yes I will, so will you, we all will.” The next couple week flew by in a flash. Then the boarding the transport ship, the only time I, and last time I would want to enter an Alliance vessel. The trip was long the food was a little better than the protein ration. Chow time on the ship, almost seemed like a feast. The ship was cramped; it was a rare oddity Purple Bellies and Browncoats together and not fighting. Before I knew it, the ship started its entry sequence. The ship felt as if it was going to shake apart. Once the ship landed and the doors opened, we were ushered along to the signing of the surrender. The sadness of the Independence surrender did not reach me that day. When I entered the area to be accounted for the war amnesty part of the agreement, I was seen some old friends. There stood Sergeant Leanne Hammer, and Corporal Tom “Ace” Acer. “Sergeant, Corporal” Sergeant Hammer replied “I go by Lee now Sir.” “Lee got it, and you Corporal” “Well Ace, Ace stayed with me even after I left the war.” “Well I spent the last half of the war, in Purgatorio. While I was there, an idea came to me. Buy a ship, and get a salvage license. The amount of debris floatin in the black, within a couple of years we’ll be rich.” Ace answered back “Brilliant idea Sir, guess I am in after all you will need a pilot.” “Lee, what about you.” “Guess so, why not.” “Great, there is one last detail, I got to go get Bell” This day was shaping up to be a great day, reunited with the last of my platoon and soon to be reunited with Bell. The signing of the Final Accord was long and drawn out. The process of the surrender became some grand ceremony, and overly wordy. During my time in the P.O.W camp, I never did think of what to call a ship. Then as everything ended, it came to me Liberty. Then as we made our way from there, we noticed that we were left to our own means to get home. While Bell being on the other side of the planet, a shuttle would be needed. We headed to a shuttle transport. That was when I saw it. The Swift Ox, a mid-bulk transport ship and it was, priced to sell. “Ace, Think she will fly.” “Looks like, she will need a little work. So go, take a shuttle and go get Bell. I should have her ready to take-off when you get back.” So I went and hopped a shuttle, my home town. The view out the window was amazing. My thoughts raced as the possibility to be with Bell once again. I noticed the town coming out to greet me. Just like when I left, the town never did get many shuttles to it. There stood my mom and dad as the door opened. “Bishop, your alive” I heard my mother rejoice while tears streamed down her face. “Bishop we thought you were dead, two years ago when you sent a wave said you were coming home, then the only thing to show up was your bags.” “Mom, Mom I was on my way home just like I said. I had my uniform coat on because I was cold. There was an Alliance checkpoint or something. They didn’t even take time to verify my discharge paperwork. I was stuck in Purgatorio all this time until the signing of the peace accord. So Mom what about Bell, oh I bet she will be happy to find out I am still alive.” “Oh Bishop, about Bell” “Bell, what about Bell. Mom please tell me she is all right, mom please I got to know. Is Bell alright?” “Dear, like the rest of us Bell thought you had died on your way home. That was what we all thought your post made it, but never did. Shortly after she met a young fed. He helped her move on from the pain of your death. They got married and she moved off to Bernadette, a few months ago” “Bernadette, but that’s a central planet ran by the Alliance” Hearing that, I turned and the shuttle was still there. I walked back into shuttle, pilot take me back. The flight back, I felt an emptiness burrowing with in me. The Alliance took everything that meant anything. When the shuttle had return I return to my newly required ship, place a few things in my cabin. Like a picture on the self, and put a bottle in the bunk drawer. Lastly, I went to the Bridge. “Ace, get us off this rock. Seems once again, the Alliance won.”

Chapter 3 Liberty

In that instance, I truly felt as if the alliance won. The alliance, always taking what is not theirs. People are living; making a life with little interference. Well that cannot happen, nothing is sacred to the alliance but how much power they have. That is why I bought Liberty. The means to avoid the Alliance Government at all cost. This is one dream I had the alliance has not taken yet. Note to self “do not say that to loud.” Over the next couple of days, Ace thinks he can improve some of the features on Liberty. Getting of this rock is not going to be as easy as I thought. Seem Liberty has very little left in the fuel cells. Just then, Lee came back to report that she found us a job. Seems the Alliance is looking for people to haul Gen Seed from Boros to the rim. I do not like the idea of doing any work for the Alliance, but it is still honest work. Settlers and the like trying to get further away can use it. Well it is an honest job, even if the employer is anything but. Well seems like, I am going to take the job even if it is against my better judgment. So grabbing the squawk box, I radio into Ace. “I am returning to Liberty, I hope she is ready for atmo. We need to be heading to Boros soon, like before I change my mind about this job.” At that point even ace new something was up, the silence in the radio said more than Ace did. Did he know, that we are about to run a job for the Alliance, wonder how the pickup is going to go. Looking at the black rounded platform with the single gold bar on the left shoulder, that clearly marks a Lieutenant in the Independence Force. Then unknowingly speaking aloud “this isn’t going to end well” not knowing the squawk was keyed until Ace chimed in. Sir, what isn’t going to end. Sir, Sir, you still with us, Sir.” Oh sorry Ace just thinking aloud, so no cause for worry. Everything is going to be all right. This job, if there’s anything I hate more than being backed against wall, it’s the when the Alliance is doing the backing. About then I heard Ace verifying shuttle docking routine. Once docked I headed to the bridge, Ace get us off this rocked, with the shuttle docked I carried my stuff to the captains quarters, along with some mighty fine crystal clear whiskey. Seams it’s the best thing to help me sleep at night and deal with the ache in the morning. Then the roar of the engines firing up, was a beautiful sound, I made my way to the observation deck as we broke atmo. That’s when it hit me, last time I broke atmo with Ace and Lee. The memory washed over me in a flood almost bringing me to my knees. The sky, the red glow as a burning cloud engulfed the moon, my platoon was down there. It all came back to me, every detail taunting me. Reminding me, there is no middle ground with purple bellies. But as I looked out the window, I was leaving Shadow once again. The silenced filled the room as I was again tring to scream. Seams I was the only one who could not hear anything, as Lee came helped me to snap out of it. Her voice was soothing and reassuring. “Sir, you had a long day. Lets get you back to your cabin. You really should lie down.” Her voice brought me out of whatever it was, and I found myself back on Liberty. What happened Lee? I asked as I found myself in a cold sweat, which chilled my bones. Then once back to my cabin, I found my bottle of liquor. That meant that it was time for a good nights’ sleep. As Lee left the Captains quarters I grabbed the whiskey, and took a good swig of the clear liquid and laid down for the night. As my body felt warm the whiskey coursing within me, I feel asleep, a peaceful dream free sleep.