Prelude
“The majority of the first world war was fought in Europe, the attrition kept to a minimal. The second world war was fought across the majority of the world with damages that took generations to mend.” Professor Howard Gant began, looking out to his audience in presentation. Howard was a middle-aged man, the graying blonde and thinning hair atop his head a testament to both stress and age. In his younger years he was striking, with a tall stature and overall sharp featured face. Over the years he had let his body deteriorate from the shape he gained when he fought in the war.
“The third world war, fought in the late twenty-first century was fought across not only earth but the corporate colonies of mars and the belt. With all our great progress in technology we accomplish only one thing in warfare, the damages we must be left with.” He made the command gesture for the holo-generator in the center of the room to activate, showing the devastating left by both nuclear, chemical and biological warfare.
“Despite the overall nuclear disarmament of People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the American Imperium, the world still saw the blunt of weapons of mass destruction with terrorist factions that was discretely supported by all three of the superpowers. Most of the destruction was found in the already delicate environments of the Mars colonies. Before the war the human was at staggering eleven billion. By the end, a meager five and a half billion. Half of our population gone.”
“No victory was attained by either of the three alliances, only destruction and devastation. The only victors of this warfare was the devil himself ladies and gentleman. It is why, we -cannot- allow such a thing to occur ever again.” He signaled the holo once again, the images switching to the destroyed UN building, the flag of the UN barely flying amidst the ruins of the old “world order.”
“Men created the UN for such a purpose, it failed.. not because it’s intent was not just but because the loose accords made it impossible to prevent war. The only accomplishment achieved was keeping the powers of those who created it. The cause of the Third World War was created because the UN failed no refused to police the new frontier of colonization. The superpowers at the time saw fit to state the UN had no business beyond Earth’s orbit as it was the planet’s government, not the solar systems.” He sighed, switching the holo to pictures of long, capsule based transport ships being attacked by black painted combat ships.
“As a result.. “privateering” began as a cold war against the three powers in order to dominate the plentiful resources brought forth by the belt and mars. We all know this privateering is what truly ignited the third world war.” The professor clicked the holo showing the insignia of a blue shield holding the sun.
“It is why we need this, we need to prevent privateering and the powers cannot each individually police it. It must be a united front by all nations. Ladies and Gentlemen of the nations... I present you my idea for the first Space Fleet. With ships created by the Russian Federation, weapons and shielding created by the American Imperium and Nuclear Fusion Generators provided by China... we can create a united front of peace for all man-kind and put behind the years of distrust created after the war. The best and the brightest of military and scientific minds will be sent, with mixed crews of all nationalities. Ladies and Gentlemen, if approved.. it will be the groundwork not only for transport protection policies but also a diplomatic one where we will be united in our cause. Mankind has in it’s grasp to forgo the death and destruction dealt on an interplanetary scale and look further into the heavens as we take rightful place in the galaxy!”
His audience was silent for a moment as the idea seemed to filter through the representatives of all nations. The silence although short had created a bead of sweat that he felt sliding down the side of his face. Silence was broken as the Russian representative stood from his seat and began clapping, followed by the entirety of the world congress.
“The third world war, fought in the late twenty-first century was fought across not only earth but the corporate colonies of mars and the belt. With all our great progress in technology we accomplish only one thing in warfare, the damages we must be left with.” He made the command gesture for the holo-generator in the center of the room to activate, showing the devastating left by both nuclear, chemical and biological warfare.
“Despite the overall nuclear disarmament of People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation and the American Imperium, the world still saw the blunt of weapons of mass destruction with terrorist factions that was discretely supported by all three of the superpowers. Most of the destruction was found in the already delicate environments of the Mars colonies. Before the war the human was at staggering eleven billion. By the end, a meager five and a half billion. Half of our population gone.”
“No victory was attained by either of the three alliances, only destruction and devastation. The only victors of this warfare was the devil himself ladies and gentleman. It is why, we -cannot- allow such a thing to occur ever again.” He signaled the holo once again, the images switching to the destroyed UN building, the flag of the UN barely flying amidst the ruins of the old “world order.”
“Men created the UN for such a purpose, it failed.. not because it’s intent was not just but because the loose accords made it impossible to prevent war. The only accomplishment achieved was keeping the powers of those who created it. The cause of the Third World War was created because the UN failed no refused to police the new frontier of colonization. The superpowers at the time saw fit to state the UN had no business beyond Earth’s orbit as it was the planet’s government, not the solar systems.” He sighed, switching the holo to pictures of long, capsule based transport ships being attacked by black painted combat ships.
“As a result.. “privateering” began as a cold war against the three powers in order to dominate the plentiful resources brought forth by the belt and mars. We all know this privateering is what truly ignited the third world war.” The professor clicked the holo showing the insignia of a blue shield holding the sun.
“It is why we need this, we need to prevent privateering and the powers cannot each individually police it. It must be a united front by all nations. Ladies and Gentlemen of the nations... I present you my idea for the first Space Fleet. With ships created by the Russian Federation, weapons and shielding created by the American Imperium and Nuclear Fusion Generators provided by China... we can create a united front of peace for all man-kind and put behind the years of distrust created after the war. The best and the brightest of military and scientific minds will be sent, with mixed crews of all nationalities. Ladies and Gentlemen, if approved.. it will be the groundwork not only for transport protection policies but also a diplomatic one where we will be united in our cause. Mankind has in it’s grasp to forgo the death and destruction dealt on an interplanetary scale and look further into the heavens as we take rightful place in the galaxy!”
His audience was silent for a moment as the idea seemed to filter through the representatives of all nations. The silence although short had created a bead of sweat that he felt sliding down the side of his face. Silence was broken as the Russian representative stood from his seat and began clapping, followed by the entirety of the world congress.
Chapter 1
Mira Kamanin, a young but tall woman with long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail felt the sting of a punch as her sparring partner landed a solid blow to her face, the force sending her to the ground.
“C’mon Kamanin, get up. Or perhaps that's why you ruskies gave up so early in the war.” Her American Instructor said with his solid arms crossed across his chest as he watched the two spar. The only sign of the man’s age was the graying sides of his short black hair. All together, Major Thomas Harpman had aged well with his years in the Navy as a seal. As Mira seemed to not get up, he nodded to her sparring partner to finish it.
“C’mon Kamanin, get up. Or perhaps that's why you ruskies gave up so early in the war.” Her American Instructor said with his solid arms crossed across his chest as he watched the two spar. The only sign of the man’s age was the graying sides of his short black hair. All together, Major Thomas Harpman had aged well with his years in the Navy as a seal. As Mira seemed to not get up, he nodded to her sparring partner to finish it.
Her partner, a strong but short bulldog feature of a british SAS began to descend upon her to commit to a coup de gruau.
With a smirk she kicked her legs out, tripping her partner to the ground before the pounced on him, straddling his chest with her weight before she began to unleash a flurry of blows to the man’s face. A disgusting crunch was heard as the cartilage of the man’s nose caved, followed by the thump of him tapping out.
The instructor smirked, but nodded at the medic in the room to attend to the wounded cadet. “A good ruse, but what cadet can you tell me is the problem with using it?”
Mira rubbed her bleeding lip before nodding, “I can only use it once. Other who observe it will know about the ruse and suspect it.”
WIth a nod, the instructor approved. “Kamanin, I’ll see you in my office. The rest of you cadets are dismissed.”
Mira followed the major into his spartan office, still in her training gi as she stood at attention in front of his desk as he sat down. “At ease.” He said, the woman taking her seat in front of him. He retrieved her file from his desk, placing it on the desk in front of him.
“Mira Kamanin.” He read from the file, “Born to Alex Kamanin and Ashley Kamanin in 2091 in the middle of the third world war. Your mother, a british born business woman convinced your father to seek refuge in Britain where you attended school and eventually Yale. By the age of twenty two you had a doctorate in physics and a masters in aerospace engineering. After the war you returned to Moscow to join the Russian Air Force, by the age of twenty five you were an accomplished aviator. And now you are here, with interpol.” He slapped the folder in front of her.
“Can you tell me why Kamanin you seemed to be too bored to stay in one place at a time?” The major asked.
“Sir, I just have not found the right place.” She admitted.
The major stared at her for a long moment then nodded, “I don’t think this is it either. We need people who are committed, not just attempting to quell a sting of boredom.”
With a smirk she kicked her legs out, tripping her partner to the ground before the pounced on him, straddling his chest with her weight before she began to unleash a flurry of blows to the man’s face. A disgusting crunch was heard as the cartilage of the man’s nose caved, followed by the thump of him tapping out.
The instructor smirked, but nodded at the medic in the room to attend to the wounded cadet. “A good ruse, but what cadet can you tell me is the problem with using it?”
Mira rubbed her bleeding lip before nodding, “I can only use it once. Other who observe it will know about the ruse and suspect it.”
WIth a nod, the instructor approved. “Kamanin, I’ll see you in my office. The rest of you cadets are dismissed.”
Mira followed the major into his spartan office, still in her training gi as she stood at attention in front of his desk as he sat down. “At ease.” He said, the woman taking her seat in front of him. He retrieved her file from his desk, placing it on the desk in front of him.
“Mira Kamanin.” He read from the file, “Born to Alex Kamanin and Ashley Kamanin in 2091 in the middle of the third world war. Your mother, a british born business woman convinced your father to seek refuge in Britain where you attended school and eventually Yale. By the age of twenty two you had a doctorate in physics and a masters in aerospace engineering. After the war you returned to Moscow to join the Russian Air Force, by the age of twenty five you were an accomplished aviator. And now you are here, with interpol.” He slapped the folder in front of her.
“Can you tell me why Kamanin you seemed to be too bored to stay in one place at a time?” The major asked.
“Sir, I just have not found the right place.” She admitted.
The major stared at her for a long moment then nodded, “I don’t think this is it either. We need people who are committed, not just attempting to quell a sting of boredom.”
Mira frowned visibly,
“With all due respect sir, I am the top of the class with the highest scores - my combat abil-”
With a hand gestured, the major interrupted her. “Let me finish. I am recommending you for another program. Tell me cadet, did you hear Professor Gant’s proposal?”
Mira blinked for a moment, “But sir, I was refused entry into the cosmonaut program.”
Her instructor nodded, “Yes but do you know why?” He asked bluntly to which Mira shook her head, “Your dual citizenship created the problem. The Russian military thought it ill-advised to send a pilot whose loyalty is questionable into the service of the mostly highly respected individuals.”
She shook her head, “Despite that, I don’t have any experience in space. I have not even achieved it as a civilian.”
Thomas tented his hands together, “But you will. I sent the recommendation already. All candidates are to meet in Florida in two days." He pulled a ticket out of his desk and placed it in front of her.
Mira shook her head, “Sir. I don’t deserve this. Surely there are plenty of other candidates deserving of this.”
Thomas sighed then nodded, “Plenty are deserving. Some of the best join interpol and I have had the pleasure of instructing the finest men and women. Mira, I am sure you will make an excellent interpol agent. But this is not where you belong and you know it. Now go.. before I change my mind.”
The young woman stared at the ticket for a few minutes then took it. As the major stood up to salute her, it was returned before he extended a hand to shake. “Congratulations. Don’t forget what we have taught you. You’ll essentially be doing everything I taught you.. only in a different environment. ”
“I won’t.” MIra said with a sigh, “And thank you sir, I won’t forget.”
“With all due respect sir, I am the top of the class with the highest scores - my combat abil-”
With a hand gestured, the major interrupted her. “Let me finish. I am recommending you for another program. Tell me cadet, did you hear Professor Gant’s proposal?”
Mira blinked for a moment, “But sir, I was refused entry into the cosmonaut program.”
Her instructor nodded, “Yes but do you know why?” He asked bluntly to which Mira shook her head, “Your dual citizenship created the problem. The Russian military thought it ill-advised to send a pilot whose loyalty is questionable into the service of the mostly highly respected individuals.”
She shook her head, “Despite that, I don’t have any experience in space. I have not even achieved it as a civilian.”
Thomas tented his hands together, “But you will. I sent the recommendation already. All candidates are to meet in Florida in two days." He pulled a ticket out of his desk and placed it in front of her.
Mira shook her head, “Sir. I don’t deserve this. Surely there are plenty of other candidates deserving of this.”
Thomas sighed then nodded, “Plenty are deserving. Some of the best join interpol and I have had the pleasure of instructing the finest men and women. Mira, I am sure you will make an excellent interpol agent. But this is not where you belong and you know it. Now go.. before I change my mind.”
The young woman stared at the ticket for a few minutes then took it. As the major stood up to salute her, it was returned before he extended a hand to shake. “Congratulations. Don’t forget what we have taught you. You’ll essentially be doing everything I taught you.. only in a different environment. ”
“I won’t.” MIra said with a sigh, “And thank you sir, I won’t forget.”
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