Jim Thompson lived on a different world. Long ago, as the story goes, Jim’s ancestors made the long and difficult journey of travelling to another star. What they found was an icy, bleak chunk of rock. This planet did have a breathable atmosphere, but it was so cold you could only farm near the equator, and the planet’s surprising lack of natural resources meant growth was slow and arduous. Thus, the colony of Benrire, sixth planet of the Avalon System, always seemed at least one step behind in development compared to Earth and the rest of the colonies.
Jim Thompson, now 14 years old, had gradually grown bored with life at home. His father was an agricultural engineer. His mother was a doctor. Since an early age, Jim had a fascination with stars and space. Jim had an uncle who owned and operated a trade freighter. . It was summer, and school was out, so Jim sent a résumé to his uncle to apply for an apprenticeship. If accepted, Jim would be able to go into space. This was how his adventure began.
“ . . . and the latest from our war correspondences suggests that the Earth Federation is launching another offensive in the Vega System,” announced the newscaster. “Also, earlier today, Space Confederate forces had several skirmishes with the Federation garrison at Sirius Prime . . .”
Jim’s mother walked into the room. “Jimmy dear, there’s some mail here from your uncle,” she said. Jim took the electronic printout, and skimmed over the letter informing him to report in one week to New Siberia spaceport for departure on the C.C.S. Landrake for his first assignment.
One week later, packed and ready, Jim said good-bye and left for the spaceport. It took a while to find his way to the spaceship, the C.C.S. Landrake. Once there, his uncle Captain T. Brown introduced Jim to the entire crew. Jim’s quarters were nothing less than a converted utility room.
The shaky lift-off took Jim by surprise. He didn’t know if he should have held onto something, and the ship’s movement startled him. After what seemed like ages the shaking stopped, but that wasn’t how Jim knew they had gotten into space. He stared out the window into a deep, dark expanse filled with tiny dots of light. The first stop was to be the orbiting space station. Jack watched as the crew skillfully docked with the station. Most of the crew decided to relax in the station’s recreation room and holographic simulator. Jim did too for a while, before deciding to find the Captain.
“No, Captain we are not allowing travel to Tiberia,” said the exasperated man in the suit.
“And why is that? I have shipments to make,” asked the equally exasperated Captain.
“Because of the pirates infesting that system,” replied the man in the suit.
“My ship can handle a few pirates,” countered the Captain.
“There a more than just a few . . .” The man’s voice was cut-off as Jim left the room.
Travelling from one star to another used to take decades and all on board were put in suspended animation so they wouldn’t die from old age before reaching their destination. The Jump Gate, acted as a short cut through space and time. Century long journeys became a matter of days.
Jim gazed out a window, watching the horizon of the planet. He turned back just in time to see a girl about his age arguing with the man at docking gate 4.
“ . . . but I have to get to Tiberia,” shouted the outraged girl.
“I’m sorry but no traffic is being allowed to the Santos System,” replied the gatekeeper sternly.
“But my father is in Command of . . .” yelled the girl.
“I don’t care if your father is the President of Earth, no way!” interrupted the gatekeeper. “And besides, there haven’t been any liners going that way for days.”
Jim decided to try and help the girl. “Maybe I can help you. My uncle has a ship that’s supposed to go to Tiberia. He might let you come with us.”
After hours of arguments, Capt. Brown was finally given permission to use the Jump Gate. “So uncle sir, can we take her with us? She’ll pay,” pleaded Jim.
“First, I intend to meet this potential passenger. You’ve only known her for a day,” replied the weary captain.
Later, in the Captain’s office Jim’s uncle met with the girl. “Hello Captain, my name is Sarah Matheson,” greeted the girl politely. “I can pay for your services and I’ll stay out of your way.”
Soon afterwards, the C.C.S. Landrake undocked and headed towards the slowly activating Jump Gate.
“She seems nice enough, and she can pay plenty so I’ll let her come,” said Capt. Brown. “I’m taking quite a risk though so she’s your responsibility. She’d better stay out of our way.”
“Fine,” replied Jim.
Jim watched from his window and braced himself for hyperspace. Suddenly the dim specks of stars became mesmerizing coloured patterns skimming by. No acceleration? He was disappointed. In the hours of crossing hyperspace Jim watched how the crew operated in hyperspace, then got bored and looked for Sarah. They talked and played 4-D Chess.
They were concentrating on yet another game, Sarah having won five of six previous ones, when they left hyperspace. Suddenly, the ship shook violently and alarms sounded. They were under attack.
“Sir, there are 12 ships attacking us from all directions,” yelled one of the crew.
Quickly the Captain ordered evasive maneuvers, had the ships own weapons return fire, and made a run for Tiberia’s orbiting defense station.
“Sir, our engines are at critical!” warned an engineer. “We’ve lost them . . . we’re going down!”
They plummeted towards Tiberia’s moon. The landscape came rushing towards them like a meteor. Jim braced for the imminent crash. Suddenly a booster came back online and allowed the ship to ease up just before landing, preventing its annihilation. Enemy ships landed around the damaged freighter, and armed space-suited figures surrounded the ship, breached an airlock and boarded the wreck.
Jim, Sarah, the Captain and the crew were now prisoners of space pirates. Throughout the ordeal Jim and Sarah were able to pick up several things from eavesdropping on the guards’ conversations. They found out the pirates secret plan was to sabotage a peace summit between the Federation and the Confederacy and have the two sides blame it on each other. This would keep the war going while the terrorists secretly launched a military takeover.
One day, the pirates decided to move the prisoners. The captain had earlier decided that this was the time to try an escape. Hopefully, someone would be able to escape and find help.
So, as the prisoners were being shoved forward, several suddenly tore loose and ran. In the ensuing chaos Jim and Sarah managed to reach the ship and board two of the freighter’s small one-person shuttles.
They agreed to split up. Sarah would contact the authorities on Tiberia while Jim would jump to Alpha Centauri – the location of the peace summit. Sarah’s father Admiral R. Matheson was stationed there. Sarah gave Jim a message for her father, and in case he didn’t believe Jim, a locket that would prove it was from her.
Sarah flew off first and headed straight towards the planet. Then Jim flew off and headed for the Jump Gate. Jim had flown one-person shuttles before and often did stunts and maneuvers. The chasing fighters and surface laser batteries put his skill to the test. Just as the fighters were about to close in, he entered the Gateway. As he did he looked back and saw Sarah’s shuttle in flames spiraling towards the planet.
“I need to see the Admiral right away,” said Jim to the Lieutenant who intercepted him. “It’s urgent, I have a message about space terrorists.”
“Sure,” replied the Lieutenant sarcastically, “And I’m an alien.”
“I mean it, his daughter Sarah gave me an extremely important message,” said the exasperated Jim.
“His daughter? You know where she is? Come with me,” said the Lieutenant.
In the Admiral’s Office, Jim told the Admiral the whole story of what had happened from when he’d met Sarah to the capture and escape from the pirates. Then he gave the Admiral the locket from Sarah. The Admiral took it and immediately left with a fleet of warships for Tiberia.
“Earlier this week, a stronghold of the Vega-Orion Pirate Syndicate was destroyed by the Earth Space Forces in cooperation with the Colonial Militia of Tiberia,” announced the newscaster. “It is said that a boy warned of the conspiracy before . . .”
Jim shined his medal of honour as he waited in the C.C.S. Landrake, repaired and recommissioned under Captain T. Brown of the New Commonwealth Peace Corps. Jim then turned his attention to the 4-D Chess game in front of him. His opponent was a familiar looking girl with a gold pin on her collar indicating the rank of assistant diplomat.