June 12, 2051 Director’s Office Office of Planetary Security Lisbon Portugal Director Kinney is seated at his desk trying to hide his concern over the fact that squadron 1 hasn’t returned to Earth on time. To the casual observer he’s working on official documents; to anyone that knows him it’s obvious that he’s been looking at the same page for hours. Squadron 3 had returned on the first of the month after finding nothing of interest during their mission. Squadron 2 came home on June 8 with no knowledge of the Empire or the Legion but they had discovered a life-bearing planet during their search. The Colonization Department had already dispatched a survey expedition to the planet. Squadron 1 should have been home at least a week ago. “Director Kinney.” “Yes Colonel.” “Squadron 1 just jumped back into normal space inside of Mars orbit, they should be back home in a few hours.” Director Kinney’s face breaks into a huge smile. “Did Major Peterson explain why they’re so late?” “Sir, Major Peterson isn’t with the squadron.” “What?” Director Kinney’s smile is replaced by a look of intense worry. “His second in command reports that Major Peterson was captured.” “Oh shit, god damn the fucking Legion to hell.” “Sir, what should I do when they land?” “Bring them to me as soon as possible Colonel.” “Yes sir.” *** “Captain Picard, what happened?” “Director Kinney, we had jumped back into N-Space from the last stellar system we were going to survey and were preparing to return home when Major Peterson noticed a convoy of ships at the extreme range of our N-space sensors. We moved to intercept them and then followed them until they jumped into normal space. There were 30 transports and 2 larger ships in the convoy. All the ships were marked with the sign of the Legion. When we jumped we came out in normal space almost on top of them. We diced them up like soft cheese. None of them made any attempt to fight back.” “If they didn’t fight back what happened to Major Peterson?” “His propulsion unit was damaged by debris from one of the explosions. The only thing any of the alien transport ships did was to try to jump back to N-space. If we hadn’t entered normal space so close to them they would’ve escaped. The large ship leading the convoy eventually changed direction and came charging back at us. Major Peterson ordered us to return to Earth with our information and to not risk fighting with an obviously stronger ship. Though they never fired anything before we jumped. Sir we had no way of towing Major Peterson to safety; that’s a design flaw in the fighters that should be addressed.” “Have no fear Captain it will be.” “Once we formed up in N-space I ordered the other ships to stay where they were and I returned to normal space to see what had happened. Luckily I entered normal space fairly close to the point where we’d attacked the convoy. The alien ship used some type of ray to tow Major Peterson’s fighter to the planet. Even though I followed fairly close they didn’t seem to notice that I was there. A large shuttle came up from the planet, took Major Peterson’s ship into its interior and returned to the planet. I then jumped to N-space, rejoined the Squadron and then we returned to Earth as quickly as possible. Major Peterson had dumped all of his homing probes before he was captured and we placed a large number in that part of N-space so it should be easy to find the planet again. Sir, I’m sure that they were totally unprepared for an attack in space.” “Thank you Captain, you’ll need to report to your superiors. Convey to your companions my thanks for a job well done. You have helped in the ultimate triumph of Operation Revenge.” *** Director Kinney has flown to Pittsburgh to make a visit that he truly doesn’t want to make. KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK “Hold your damn horses I’m coming. Don’t bust down the damn door.” Two men, obviously father and son stare at the other. “Professor Augustus Brian Peterson-Marcus?” “Dad you know full well who I am.” “I’m here as the Director of Planetary Security, not as your father.” The younger man’s body just slumps and after a few seconds he resumes his normal erect stature. An attractive woman just slightly shorter stands behind him in the doorway. “Mother fucking hell you got him killed didn’t you; you fucking son of a bitch.” “Gus calm down.” “How can I calm down Katherine, my son is dead because of this fucking bastard?” “Gus as far as we know he is only captured.” “That’s supposed to make me feel better, the god damn Stolen have only been captured for 50 years.” “Gus, for your own sake calm down. What happened Brian?” “Major Peterson’s Squadron followed a Legion convoy through N-space until they jumped into normal space. The Squadron then jumped in after them, found themselves on top of the alien ships and proceeded to destroy the convoy. During the fighting debris from one of the ships damaged Major Peterson’s propulsion unit. Major Peterson ordered his men to return to N-space when the large escort ship approached his position. The alien ship towed him to planetary orbit and then he and his ship were taken to the surface. We’ll do everything we can to get him back.” “Well Dad the only fucking member of the family to give a shit about you and you send him out to be captured by aliens that buy sexual slaves.” “Taylor knew the risks when he joined up and when he volunteered for this mission.” Director Kinney replies in a guilty tone. “Like he had a fucking choice after all the shit you fed him as he was growing up. You didn’t have time to spend with me but you sure as hell had time to spend with my son. Did it make you happy when he turned out gay? I’m sure my being straight disappointed you. That had to have hurt the ego of the King of Liberty Avenue producing a breeder.” “Gus calm down before you have a stroke. You aren’t helping Taylor acting like this. Brian would you like to stay for supper. You know Gus doesn’t mean any of this.” “Thank you Katherine, but I can’t, I have to get back to the office. I‘ll let you know when we find anything out about Taylor.” Director Kinney turns and begins to walk back to his limo but turns around when his son begins to talk again. “Sure Dad walk away from me again. That’s what you‘ve been doing all of my life. Leaving me behind in your search for the fucking twink that wouldn’t go away. Hell Dad that fucking twink, if he’s even alive, probably doesn’t even remember you. So walk away and send the sons of other men to be captured and killed to look for the fucking love of your life. You took forever to admit loving Justin and then you lost him and then you never loved anyone else no matter how much they needed your love. I never want to see you again.” Director Kinney starts to say something but then turns and moves down the sidewalk, tears unseen by his son fill his eyes.