Ashes of the fallen.

Major Nicholas Trist sat in the ships refectory. It's was halfway through lunchtime service, the refectory was packed with hungry soldiers, but Nicholas sat alone. His mind a swarm of thought and contemplation, his face a picture of dejection and destain.
'This is the fourth day he's been in this mood' said Mira, through mouthfuls of food, shaking her head.'
Sanders nodded in agreement with his sister, 'We're lucky he's even shown his face in here. The damn fool's been cooped up in the officers decks for 3 days. Having his errand boys bring him food.'
'What do you expect you idiots, the cause is done for and his father was just left to die alone' said Miguel angrily.
'Give the guy a break for once.'
Mira snarled at Miguel and continued to devour her food.
'Well if he's the future of our 'cause' then we may as well have stayed back home.' Scoffed Mira, as she got yo fro the table and left the refectory.
The rest of the troop sat at the table all knew they wouldn't last long if Nicholas stayed in this mood. With no direction to head in or orders to follow, they drifted though the darkness as a fleet without a captain.
'Someone should at least go comfort the man. We could try and cheer him up.' Winston pleaded.
Sergeant Jacobs glared at winston from the head of the table.
'Oh yeah? Well why don't you go tell him one of your classic jokes dumbass. That'll brighten up his day no end.'
'He wants to be left alone, so leave the man to his thoughts. Now may I please finish my meal without all of you trying to play school councillor?' He said, annoyed his meal had been interrupted.
The table was silenced, except for the noise of hungry soldiers emptying their plates and filling their bellies.


Lola looked over at Nicholas, the dejected and scornful look on his face too much for her too ignore. She knew that if things stayed this way, they would all soon perish. She got up from the table and walked toward Nicholas. Sergeant Jacobs looked up from his meal at Lola and rolled his eyes.
'Damn fool.' He whispered to himself.
Lola approached Nicholas and sat down next to him.
'How's lunch, Sir?' Lola asked nervously.
'Terrible as always, what can I do for you Private Dawkins?'
'We uhh, we want to know orders moving forward sir.'
'The orders are the same as they have been the same for four days private, now do as ordered and maintain position.' Nicholas barked at Lola.
'But Sir, we've been thinking that...'
Nicholas rose quickly from the table and looked down menacingly at Lola.
'Your job is not to think, private.' Shouted Nicholas
'Your job is to follow the orders I give you. Now do those or I will write you up on a charge for insubordination. Get out of my sight.'
Nicholas sat back down and started picking at his food. Lola got up from the seat, red faced and flustered. As she walked back to her seat she turned to her commanding officer.
'Were all going to die, sir.' Lola exclaimed. As she did, any solider within earshot looked up from their meals in awe of the comment.
'If you sit here, wallowing in your self pity, we will die sir. The fact we've made is this far is a miracle, we all know it. You must see this.'
Nicholas said nothing, instead he stood up, carried his tray to the bin and left the refectory. The look of distain still clear on his face.


Nicholas walked through the ships corridors, his mind a cauldron of emotion churning with each corner he took. As he walked he mumbled to himself about the events in the refectory.
'How dare he speak to me in such a way.' He muttered scornfully.
'I should have her court marshalled, she dares question me on my own ship.'
He walked up the two flights of stairs that lead to the officers deck. As he took the first corner towards the officers mess hall. He bumped into Captain Eli.
'God d****t Eli watch where you're going.'
Eli apologetically gestured to Nicholas.'
'Woah, easy Nic, are you ok?' He inquired.
'Were you down in the refectory? I haven't seen you leave here in days.'
Nicholas attempted to barge past Eli, as brushed past, Eli grabbed his hand and pulled him back.
'Mind where you put your hands, captain.'Levi didn't let go, instead he tightened his grip on Nicholas' arm.
'Get it together Nic, we're a mess here, I know it, you know it, we all know it. And having you in this mood will get us killed, Nic. So please, I beg of you, get the normal you back. I know losing your dad was hard but we need to make a move.'


Nicholas' angered face eased as he accepted the words Levi had shouted at him.
'I'm sorry Kieron.' He said softly.
'It's all gone, all we'd worked for, our home, the general.' His face a picture of defeat.
'I remember it, as clear as it were being said to be now. The last words spoken to me by my father are all I have left.
Whenever you feel the challenge to great and defeat closing in, remember your brothers, remember your sisters, together in arms, you will triumph.
These words, do they mean anything? We ran from the challenge, took the remainder of the fleet and hightailed it from our home. How can I take meaning from those words when all we had burns around us and is little more than ash and dust.'
The tight grip captain Eli held onto Nicholas loosened and instead he put his arm round the Major.
'We will it this around. Those grey b******s will not take both our home and our lives.' He said ferociously.
'But we cannot linger. We must make for a safe haven and formulate some sort of plan.'
Nicholas nodded at Levi, and without saying a word, he headed toward the bridge of the ship.


As he strode towards the bridge, the aura of dejection and defeat left his body. The anger towards the foes who had wiped out his home and his family now burned with searing intensity. As he walked towards the bridge he knew the jeopardy he had put the ship and the rest of the fleet in. He knew this would not happen again.
'You two.' He hollered at two passing soldiers.
'Yes sir!' They replaced, standing st attention.
'I want all solider prepped for departure within an hour. Be quick about it we haven't much time.'
'Sir, yes sir!' The soldiers gleefully explained.
The soldiers shot off to ready the rest of the ship. Nicholas entered bridge and took his seat at the command point. As he scammed the room, engineers and flight officers stared at him in shock and awe. The look in the faces of many presuming they had already given up.
'Navigators, set course for the Reebar system, flight commander McClearly, set pace at full speed, Harris, get comms online and direct the rest of the fleet to follow orders.'
'Sir, yes sir!' Replied the bridge in unison.
Nicholas look out into the deep blackness and a smile edged it's way onto his face.
'It's time we paid a visit to Vector.'

Author's Note

As with the note attached to the main books article. It's my first dabble at a book so criticism and help improving for future work warmly welcomed.