They were both set designers. Pretty cool actually; I can watch the movies they worked on… it’s nice. I was with my grandparents at the time of the attack, but they both died a few months later because of the bombs’ damage. I have more family than that, but nobody had time to look for them in the wake of the attack. I was placed in an orphanage with a a lot of other kids. I was there for four years. Then the TSC showed up and asked if any of us wanted to enter their program. I couldn’t sign up fast enough. I wanted out of that place, and I wanted payback.
I was in the first batch to enter the program, and I loved everything about it. Yeah, the high-school part wasn’t that great, not too far from real high school, I imagine, except that it prepared us for the next step, the Terran Space Command. To get into TSC Military Institute, you have to commit for eight years after high school, but again, that was a no-brainer for me.
Univerity flew by for me. It was fun. Challenging, but fun. There is a hefty emphasis placed on teamwork, relying on your brothers and sisters to accomplish the mission, so I grew very close to my classmates. They became my family, really the only family I have left. We all grew close.
After graduation, I was made 2nd lieutenant in Viper 3, or 3rd interceptor squadron, but I won’t get to solo an interceptor until I’ve completed two years as a trainee. One year left. Do you know about the squadrons?
I answered that I did not.
There are eight squadrons in TSC. Let me see… Viper, mine of course, then Wolfpack, the Black Knights, the Blue Barons, the Red Tails, the Red Devils, the Cobras, and the Golden Eagles. Yeah, that’s all of them. Of course, they are all excellent squadrons, but, in my humble opinion, Viper squadron might have the edge this year. (He smiles.)
The edge?
Oh, sorry, I guess I just assume everyone knows about the squadrons. When the TSC was put together, they were still trying to create an organization that met humanity’s needs first. To create a unified command. President Rosita pushed the idea, which was then molded by… I’m not sure. Anyway, the squadrons were created. The eight squadrons not only represent interceptor squadrons like my own, but everything and everyone, including the destroyers. Every member of the TSC belongs to a squadron. Cooks, mechanics, flight crew, marines, cleaners, technicians, everyone. The members of your squadron become your family. You do everything with them: train, attend classes, eat, and fight. It’s easy to recognize a squadron member because we each have our own color and mascot.
In Phoenix, there are eight space docks where you spend most of your time. Each space dock has its own canteens, training centers, offices, and of course, interceptors. There are a few places where the squadrons mix. The biggest is the main hospital. There, we’re all the same, which is a reminder that we’re all human, which tops everything else.
Does it work? I mean, does it replace the national ties?
For me, it has, but the program is still in its infancy, as is the TSC. The younger guys in my squadron, those who have gone through the whole program, are much closer to each other than the older guys, I think. By older guys, I mean the ones who fought for their country. They’re great guys and mentors, don’t get me wrong, but you can see them hovering near their countrymen a lot. That’s not the case with us. I don’t even know what country some of the younger guys came from.
It’s a funny thing, you know. I’m from Germany, and I appreciate the country, but I left it when I was young. I don’t feel a strong pull to it, no more so than any other Terran country. I’m Viper, and have been since I was twelve.
Have you had interaction with the Jhi or any of the other aliens?
With the Jhi, a bit. I haven’t talked to any of the ambassadors, but I’ve seen them around the base quite a bit. They seem okay, really. In one of my classes, an aerial combat class, one of my instructors was asked about the Jhi ambassadors. The teacher, who was a pilot from Canada, told us that they reminded him of people who worked for human resources. None of us in the class knew what HR was, but he said they’re the kind of people who tell you what you want to hear, and they’ll always smile and slap your back like they’re your buddy, right until the day they fire you.
Again, those were his words, not mine, but a few weeks after the class, a few of my buddies and I were in the canteen when the crew of the Jhi ship walked in. They got in line for some food but didn’t get anything to eat. One of my buddies got up and asked them if they wanted to sit with us. The Jhi just looked at my friend, said something back to his friends, then turned around and walked off. Didn’t say a word. It didn’t leave us with the best impression of them.
Now, the Frosties, that’s another story. Have you met any of them?
I’ve seen pictures but haven’t talked to them.
You should; they’re great guys. We call them Frosties, but that’s just a nickname. Their real name is tough to say. Their skin is ashen. They come from a world where the sun is so bright they mostly stay underground, which leads to the color of their skin.
They’re social guys, and they love to drink. The first year I was here, I made friends with a White named Fun Adult. (He laughs.) That’s his actual name. Their language is very literal, so that’s the name he got. He told me it’s tonal also, so that helps distinguish people with the same name.
He’s not much older than me and works on a commercial ship. The Frosties don’t have their own navy because they’re part of the Shin Alliance. Mostly traders, I think. Every time I see him, he brings me a new bottle of alcohol from somewhere. Of course, I have to turn it in for inspection, but most times I get it back.
Were you involved with the raider action yesterday?
No, not yesterday, the Cobras were on call, a nd it wasn’t that big of an incursion. I was involved in the action last week. Three ships showed up with an unknown registration. They ignored our inquiries and orders to be boarded, of course. They always do. They tried to put the Earth between Phoenix and us, but they were slow ships. I was here, in the ready room playing cards, as Viper Squadron was on call. We boarded our ship and launched within minutes.
We launched ready one, which consists of eight interceptors. Our flight leader hailed the ships again, ordering them away from Earth space, but they still ignored us. The command was tasked to disable the vessels, not destroy them. It’s a standing order to disable if it doesn’t put pilots at risk. I think they go over the tech to see if there’s anything we can use.
Anyway, when we got close, the ships fired on us. The missiles were antiques and never locked on. We easily avoided them. It only took three missiles to put the vessels out of action and adrift. Then they hailed us. (Laughs.) We ran patrol as a destroyer came and picked them up. It was anti-climactic. With yesterday’s raid, there have been three in the last two weeks. The bottom feeders don’t seem to be learning.
Why do you think that is?
I’d say it’s because they had a free run on Earth for so many years. Different raiders or slaver syndicates took thousands of people from Earth before we got our space program started. No one knows how many. It was incredibly easy for them at the beginning, before Earth could stop them, I mean. Pure profit from their standpoint. Swing by, pick up a species that no one has ever seen before, and sell it to some collector or other intergalactic bigshot. No problem.
They didn’t really show up until the end of the ground war, but they showed up frequently after that. From what I’ve learned about it, we didn’t even know it was happening until someone eyeballed them. Apparently, ground side took them for our guys.