The Carlson Chronicle Chapter 1
Chapter 4

2-Apr-2323

Amy stood and just gawked at the ship Lorelei had built for Alex. A catamaran style hull, with a central core for control and living areas in the fore, and the aft area housing the main reactor and thruster plate. The entire ship screamed human, but the technology was completely Galhadian, Alex and Lorelei pulling out all the stops.

“Well, there it is. When Karen and I first met you, as you Amy, she brought up a show we used to watch as kids. It had spawned a number of games, some of which I played in my youth, and this was one of those ships. Pretty cool huh?”

“Huh. Does it work?”

“Of course it works. As soon as we get crew for it. Omar assures me he has some crew for me now, so after I adjust the weapons balance, shoot off an email to Karen that we’re leaving for awhile to scope out that system we’re supposed to start mining, we’ll head down to his shop, and see what he has.”

“Hmm, ok. How big is that ship? It’s hard to tell size without a frame of reference.”

“25,000 cubic yards, 12,000 tons. 30%c thruster, a Fold engine, and AP beams and Gatling grazers. No torpedo weapon, but I’m not building a warship, not yet at least. I have some ideas, just nothing at the moment. Let’s focus on getting resources to Galhadia, then worry about ship designs.”

“I talked to Lorelei. We’ll be sending the resources here. Galhadia only has an orbital yard, but the computer core is fried. It can’t build anything.” Alex nodded.

“Ok, makes the most sense. Easier to stage and train crews if they aren’t fighting for their lives in the meantime.”

“Ok, so, ready?” She asked, offering him her arm.

“Yep. Let’s go replace some crew. Got any ideas for a name for our new home?”

“Hmmm. Well, we’ll be using it to explore and possibly harass any Garshans we replace, so how about something from Earth’s past? I really liked Earth’s history, especially WWII.”

“And here I would have never picked you for a war historian. What part of World War II caught your eye?”

“The commerce raiding Germany did in the early part.” She said with a grin.

“Ah, so my girl’s got a wee bit of the pirate in her eh?” He said with a laugh. She grinned at him. Thinking back to the ships the Germans fielded in the early days of the war, he tossed three names at her.

“Ok, we have Graf Spee, Terpitz, and Bismarck. All three were tasked with commerce raiding. Which one do you like best?”

“Graf Spee, hands down. It just sounds really cool.”

“Graf Spee it is. I’ll tell Lorelei when we get back from Omar’s.”

“K.”

Cheyenne Mountain Complex

Earth

Same Time

James Carlson watched the gun camera footage again from Foxtrot 2 as Amy’s escort faded from view and the sensors of the patrol ship. Tiberius seemed to squirm in his seat, not liking where information like this tended to lead.

The people of Earth were very weary of war with their colonies, and even when it looked like the Empire had the upper hand, some new attack or info cluster would turn up, and turn everyone on their heads. So, as the Emperor looked once more as the escort faded from view, he threw up his hands in disgust.

“James, do what you can. If that really was a Colony frigate, and they’ve managed to get their sensors that good, I might as well step down, and surrender the Empire to the Colonies tomorrow.”

James grunted something unintelligible.

“Let’s not throw the baby out with bath water just yet old friend.” He said as Tiberius looked at him crossly.

“If that WAS a Colony frigate, I’ll need to have all the data you have on it, and I’ll get my best minds working.”

“If that was a Colony frigate, it means Kinsman has found something out in their area of space. An alien artifact or such?” James shrugged.

“I think if McDugal’s hordes had found something THAT significant, the whole quadrant would have heard of it by now.” Tiberius sighed.

“I’d still be interested in it even if was just a fluke of design. By the way, when are these ‘animal-men’ due to be released?”

“Soon James. Just as soon as they clear medical. We’re releasing over 40% of the population we have on A-3 onto Center. Gonna see if they can adapt to the new surroundings.”

James nodded.

“As to the space trials of Tri-Tach’s newest offering, the ‘Hammerfield’ I believe, things are going well. Your new point defense system and shield generator are tops, so my aides tell me.”

“I do what I can for you, Emperor.”

“Yes, you do. Find that Escort. Track it all the way to Taucente if you have to, but replace it. Nothing else matters.”

Again, James nodded.

“Leave me. I need to think.” Tiberius ordered, waving James away. The elder Carlson rose from his seat, bowed slightly, then made his way back to his waiting limo. Within minutes he was racing across the rolling foothills of Wyoming, heading for the private airfield he maintained just outside of Laramie.

“Get me a shuttle. I need to catch the next liner to Center. What? One left already? Fine, when is the next one? In the morning?! Fine! Book me onto it, I need to grill the A.I. that runs Center. Any word on my son? Last seen getting into a cab that crashed near the star port you say? Well, knowing his resourcefulness, I’d wager he’s not on Earth any longer. Just book that ticket, I’ll be at the orbital port in 3 hours. Right.” He finished into his hand COM.

“So, where did you run off to this time Alex?” He said to no one, settling back in the seat, letting fatigue finally catch up with him...

Walking into Omar’s, Alex was stopped at the door.

“You can’t bring those things in here.” The ruffian guarding the door said, pointing at Alex’s guns. He shrugged, taking the gunbelt off of his waist and handing it over.

“Not like I really need these anyway. Keep them.” He said, hugging Amy around the waist. She looked up at him grinning. As they walked into the main entrance, she spoke for the first time since getting out of the cab.

“You should keep some kind of back up, for areas where there isn’t any mana to use for spells and such. I carry a sword, well, it’s somewhere.” She said making a vague reference about her blade being somewhere around her. He nodded.

“I’ll get new ones. I don’t need the constant reminder that he raped Karen. Those guns were engraved. I’ll pick up something more useful or more my style later.”

Sitting at the receptionist’s desk was a girl no older then Karen, naked and very pretty. Alex was having a hard time focusing, considering the size of the bubble she was blowing up. Even Amy was wide eyed, both at her bubble, nearly 3 feet across, and her beauty and nudity. To make matters worse for Alex, Amy sat on his lap, as if to say ‘This guy is mine, go replace your own.’ to the receptionist. Her bubble popped a few seconds later, her pouting afterward.

“That was a good effort little one. Magi-Bubble right?” He asked. She smiled warmly to them both. The only thing she did wear was a shiny slave collar. It had an Omar’s tag hanging from the center. He also spotted a gumball machine on the other side of her desk. Scooting Amythyst to one side, he fished a few singles from his wallet, fed them to the machine, and was rewarded with almost a dozen gumballs. Setting them on the desk, her eyes wide, he told her what he needed.

“6 girls, girls only, need shipboard experience, any class, any tonnage.” He said. She nodded, scooped up all the gumballs, inhaling over half of them.

“Hey now, save some for later!” He said, surprised. She smiled around all the gum in her mouth.

“Oh, I always do Master. Do you want a piece Mistress?” She asked Amy. Amy shook her head.

“I have plenty at home. Thanks anyway.” She said with a smile as the young girl chewed out all the sweetener. After a few minutes, a door in the back wall opened, and 6 girls, all under 25, came out of the doorway, a small cable linking each girl by the collars they wore.

Three blondes, a brunette, an Asian, and a redhead that kept staring at both Alex and Amy. Alex rose, nearly dropping Amy on the floor, catching her at the last moment when he spotted Elisha. She had a spaced out look on her face, much like the chesty blonde behind her.

Standing at a statuesque 6′0", Elisha Graham and Alex Carlson worked together while he was assigned to the ‘Kitty Hawk’. She had been his Flight Engineer, keeping his and 4 other Cutlass class fighters flying. Everyone swore they were boinking each other, everytime they were seen together, but she was his mechanic, and that was that. He kept bad things from happening to her on ship, considering how common rape was in the service to the Empire, and she kept his bird from becoming a parts donor.

“What’s wrong with those two?” Alex asked the young girl, re-taking his seat, pulling Amy back onto his lap. She felt his trouser snake almost immediately and figured she’d better get him home soon.

“Oh? They’re new to the collar, and not yet broken of their free-man’s will. We keep them doped up so they don’t hurt anyone or themselves.”

“We’ll take them.” Amy said finally. Alex’s erection was all she could feel where she sat, and she wanted to get him home so she could enjoy herself on it, and to keep him from straying.

“We will? I’m getting the feeling you have a jealous streak. I hope you don’t, because I do enjoy variety. Plus, I want Karen with us. One, we need her, two, I don’t trust leaving her on Center, since I do trust Lorelei completely, but she’s got enough problems. Besides, anything she can do, I can do better. Remember, Maggie taught me everything there is to know about banking, business and economics. Besides, my heart is yours Amythyst, but I love sex more then anything. Sexing up any of these new girls will happen, and I’d hope you’d be a part of the fun.” He said to her, his eyes telling her three things: He loved her, without a doubt, he really did love sex, and that she needed to stop trying to manipulate his life. It wasn’t her place.

“Ok, you’re right. Sorry. I do like that redhead though, the slender girl with the big boobs. She could be my older sister.” Amythyst said with a grin, pointing her thumb over her shoulder at Ericka...