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CAPTAIN CHARLES
The Nexus Point | Corrox | Mahporeem
The Nexus Point | Corrox | Mahporeem
The Stryker touched down in one of Mahporeem's many repair facilities but not all was as it seemed. Command had been adamant that Charles and all 750 Crew and 100 Marines vacate the vessel to enjoy the many amenities in Corrox. They had even been generous enough to book them lavish hotels and dinners at expensive restaurants. Charles had tried to convince them that they were doing too much and that they would be fine with less but eventually decided just to go along with it.
Charles quickly discovered that there was a lot to do in Corrox. The frequent pod races being the most prominent. He was glad that there were safer ways for him and his crew to enjoy some thrills. After a few days of pod racing and feeling the guilty pleasure of having absolutely nothing to do Charles summoned his Senior Officers.
They decided upon a particularly fancy bar/night club known as The Nexus Point. Command had already given them a voucher and Charles saw no better opportunity to use it than now. The Nexus Point lived up to its reputation, as Charles opened the neon rimmed double doors he immediately noticed the scale and luxury of the place. The bar was packed, shaped like a U with the bottom facing the doors. Low lighting shining off the intricate glasses. Towards the back there was a dance floor, a live band playing for the probably half drunk dancers. Charles looked back at his Senior Officers. He had been in plenty of bars throughout his career. None of them looked quite like this.
A waitress quickly came up to them.
Charles showed her the voucher.
"Oh! You must be the special guests! Follow me to the VIP section please." She said in a friendly tone.
"VIP? Uhh you must be mistaken we are just military -" Charles stammered before he was gently cut off.
"Sir, Mahporeem Military Command called us days ago saying if you see a Navy Captain with this voucher you are to give him VIP treatment. He's a war hero."
War Hero? Charles thought to himself genuinely confused. He looked at his Senior Officers who looked equally confused.
"Madam, I'm not sure where you got that from but I assure you that I am not one of them. If anyone is it would be Captain Ronhar and his elite troops who just broke through the defense line around Fintekan. We were just doing our jobs." Responded Charles who had just managed to regain his composure a moment ago.
"No sir, look at this." Said the waitress pointing towards a large HoloNet display showing Mahporeem Coverage of the Doan Campaign. It was surrounded by a large group of military personnel and civilians. The broadcast hadn't even started yet but the crowd was glued to the screen clearly invested in whatever was about to happen.
Charles felt a twinge of guilt. He was glad his Crew was safe but the way the ground crews were talking it seemed like the repairs would take a long time. That meant of course he and his Crew would be out of the fight for longer leaving others to pick up the slack. He quickly shelved that thought.
The HoloNet Display crackled to life. At first it was the standard updates: front line movement, casualty figures, results of battles, yada yada. Charles already knew most of it from reading Intel reports.
Suddenly in the tone an announcer would use for a pod racing event the War Correspondent cut in.
"And now for our special news update brought to you by none other than the Mahporeem High Command!"
He could sense the atmosphere immediately change around him. Everyone turned their heads towards the screen, even the musicians stopped playing. It seemed like the whole room was holding their breath in anticipation.
"Today we have not one, but two inspiring stories from the front!" The correspondent started.
"As some of you may already know, just a few hours ago the glorious Captain Ronhar and his elite troops including the infamous Salvage Team Six have won a glorious victory over the corrupt and evil Doan regime by seizing the Bastion known as Base One."
"The Key to the capital's defensive line. Captain Ronhar knew that if Mahporeem's forces could take it the city's entire defensive line would be compromised paving the way to final victory!"
"According to Intelligence reports Base One boasted one of the strongest defenses on the planet, but it was no match for the skill, ingenuity and courage of Salvage Team Six and their heroic Captain Ronhar!"
The display switched to a clip of Ronhar and Salvage Team Six triumphantly raising a Mahporeem banner above the heavily fortified bastion. The crowd went wild. Cheers to Ronhar and his men were made, chants of Ronhar and Salvage Team Six filling the air. Charles smiled as well. He was glad his friend was getting the recognition he deserved.
Then the Correspondent started again.
"And now for our second story… A tale of tactical genius, overcoming overwhelming odds and sheer guts."
"This story took place a few days ago, but was not released until now due to security concerns. I bring you the Heroic Charge of the MIN Stryker!"
"The odds seemed impossible, three Prosperity Class medium cruisers vs one light cruiser. Our hero used tactical brilliance and courage. Turned the Prosperity's main advantage into a liability and sent one of them to a fiery grave in Doan's atmosphere. All this while simultaneously coordinating orbital fire support with our ground forces. Without the MIN Stryker holding the enemy off in orbit the entire Doan operation may have taken a very different course."
"Oh I almost forgot. Our mystery hero is Captain Charles of the MIN Stryker and his Crew!"
The display switched to a photograph of Charles and his Crew. He recognized it immediately, it was the one he sent to Mahporeem Command to catalog his ship. After a few seconds it switched to a clip of the battle, the chase, the torpedoes streaking through space then hitting, the Stryker charging the lead Prosperity before ducking under, reappearing as secondary explosions occurred behind them. The crowd roared.
Charles went very still. He could sense the people turning their eyes toward him slowly putting the pieces together.
Someone started clapping, then another, and another until the entire room was clapping and whistling.
Charles felt his face go red. He looked straight ahead staring at a distant point on the far wall. Next to him Voss was standing perfectly straight as usual. He was quiet for a moment. Then said just loud enough for him to hear.
"Don't let it go to your head sir."
"I wasn't planning on it." Responded Charles still a bit flustered.
The waitress smiled and gestured towards the VIP section. The room slowly returned to normal, the musicians playing, the crowd returning to their seats or the dance floor.
Charles followed her. He really needed that drink.
