Story Summary: Current sub-plots in the story: Laena is on the bridge docking ramp with Toma and Kirae wrapped in her wings. Maera has been alerted by her partner, Tanneth, to a waiting ambush. Marcus is on the way to the bridge with Chief Gillian. Falor and Taerek are searching for Ren. Ren was kidnapped and now being held by Taslaen. Saline and her Care Team have taken charge of the nursery. Current condition of the Morning Star: The first ring has been destroyed. The second ring is critically damaged. The fuselage suffered severe damage at the ring couplings. The Sun Shield generator is operating at minimal power. There are 625 escape pods with 2,500 survivors, all children, following alongside the crippled Morning Star. There are 43 days of fuel remaining in the pods. *** Chief Gillian tapped on the underside of the control panel with a screw driver. “Try it now.” Markus pushed the joystick to the left and the pod swung around in a graceful arc. “That’s a lot better than what it was doing. I was sliding all over the sky trying to control this thing.” Gillian pushed himself out from under the control panel. “That’s because the Captain ordered the training throttles deactivated on all the pods. I just reactivated yours. You are still controlling the pod, but now the autopilot is interpreting your inputs and giving you what it thinks your intent was.” The old retired Chief pointed at a small display screen. “You see this?” “Yeah, I wondered what that screen was for, it’s never come on before,” replied Markus. “It’s part of the pods training system,” explained Gillian. “Every time you do something wrong, that screen will come on and show you what you did wrong, and what the computer did to correct it. Your goal is to learn from it until that screen doesn’t come on anymore, then you can deactivate the system.” Markus’ eyes flicked to the radio as a familiar voice announced: “Hawk 1, this is Hawk 2, coming up on your left wing.” A second familiar voice followed: “Hawk something or other coming up on your right wing. I can’t remember the number you gave me, I think it was 92 or something. Why can’t we just use our jersey numbers? So, what are we doing?” Markus smiled at the radio, Sarek knew his number. He was just fooling around. “You’re Hawk 7, and we’re heading to the Bridge, something’s happening there.” “Are you sure, then what number is that thieving Rositite wannabe you hang around with?” asked Sarek. “Guys, Falor is on our side,” replied Markus. “Falor is only on Falor’s side,” said Sarek. “I’ll trust one of those empty headed Struthians before I trust Falor.” “Sarek, you just don’t like Falor because you think he stole the game ball when we played the Hetenitte Falcons,” said Markus. “Yeah, whatever,” quipped Sarek. “So, how are we getting into the Bridge?” “I’ve got Chief Gillian with me, he’s got the codes to open almost every door on the ship,” replied Markus. “He’s going to let us in through an outer cargo bay door.” “What? Old man Gillian is alive? That’s great news! How’s Nanna Jaen doing?” Markus hesitated for a moment before replying. “She… died… saving the nursery.” “Oh no… no… not Nanna, she was the best. Can Chief hear me?” “Yes.” “Chief, you probably don’t remember me, but I’m so sorry,” said Sarek. “Nanna Jaen was like everyone’s grandmother. When I’d volunteer in the nursery, she always made sandwiches for us at lunchtime. I would volunteer just to get one of her sandwiches. And… when I fumbled the ball and lost the game to the Cori Crows, it was Nanna that talked me into not quitting the team. I’m going to miss her so much.” “I remember you, son,” said Chief over the radio. “You’re the boy that wore the same blue shirt every day for two years. Jaen went to every one of your games, even if you didn’t see her, she was always there.” There was a pause before a new voice came over the radio. “This is Tala, Sarek needs a moment. He says he’s got something in his eye. I didn’t volunteer in the nursery as often as Sarek did, but, well… we all loved Nanna Jaen. I’m sorry for your loss, Sir, Nanna will be missed by all of us.” “Chief, this is Gaethon, everyone in my pod wants to express their condolences as well. We will miss her.” Chief Gillian’s voice was gravelly as he replied. “Thank you, boys, this means a lot to me. Alright, let’s get our heads in the game. I’ll be advising, but Markus is in charge of this operation.” Gillian reached across the control panel and placed the radio on mute. “Are you ready for this, son?” “Should I be worried?” asked Markus. “More than you know, but there’s no time to explain all of it to you,” said Chief. Markus watched the sleek black hull of the fuselage beneath them as they raced sternward towards the Bridge. Far above, and below, and to all sides was the 2nd Ring; the first Ring towards the bow was gone, leaving the fuselage exposed to space, only the support columns remained, jutting outward like broken twigs. The Morning Star wasn’t like its predecessor ring-ships with a simple donut-like sphere rotating around a central axis, but instead were two elongated cylinders that each rotated in opposite directions on a parallel axis; without both rings working together, the ship would rip itself apart under the colossal mass of the rings. “She’s dying,” said Gillian. “We’ll fix her,” replied Markus. “She can’t be fixed.” “Marae has a plan where we train everyone with the skills needed to fix the ship.” Gillian settled into the jump-seat next to the pilot’s chair. “I’m sorry, son, but without the infrastructure of a specialized shipyard with thousands of supporting manufacturing facilities, and tens of thousands of skilled workers, you’re not putting this broken egg back together.” “I’m not giving up,” said Markus. “We might be able to get her to limp along for another… twenty or thirty years, maybe. But, she’s critical, it’s only a matter of time before the fuselage is torn in half without the counter-balance of the 1st Ring. It’s called the wobble effect, and why it took us so long to finally build working cylinder-ring ships.” “I’m still not giving up,” replied Markus. “There’s always a way to win the game.” Gillian studied the determined expression on Markus’ face. He was young and thought in absolutes of right or wrong, yes or no, can or can not. It would be years before Markus matured and started thinking in shades of gray. “Perhaps there is,” said Gillian. “Do you have any ideas?” asked Markus. “Yes, and that’s why I need to go to the Bridge. I need to check our position… if I can get the navigation computer back online.” “And if you can’t?” “I’ll use the deep-space telescope in the astro-observatory.” “And if that’s broken?” “I’ll go outside and use a sextant.” Markus tipped his head in curiosity. “What’s that?” “It’s an ancient navigation tool used by sailing ships, there’s one in the Captain’s cabin.” “Hey, there’s the cargo bay door.” Gillian reached across the control panel and tapped in the access code. The cargo bay door slowly opened to reveal the interior. “Good, there’s still some power running through the fuselage, that’ll make things easier.” Markus guided the pod inside the massive cargo hold of the ship. The pod’s lights showed the excavation equipment below him lined up in tight columns stretching into the distance. The fuselage was divided into twenty-four sections, each with separating bulkheads that would allow a section to be pressurized, but normally wasn’t, and was probably what saved the fuselage from severe damage during the accident that had destroyed the 1st Ring; without being pressurized, there was no danger of explosive decompression. Markus glanced at Chief. “I just had an idea. The fuselage has a larger diameter than the old smaller ring ships I’ve seen videos of, and since we can’t rotate the habitat ring without ripping the ship apart, what if we locked the 2nd Ring, then spin the fuselage to give us gravity?” “I’ve already been thinking about that,” said Chief. “It might give us an extra ten years before the ship comes apart.” “We need two-hundred years to make it to the new colony,” said Markus. “The planet we were headed to is out of the question, we could never make it there, but I have a possible solution. I’ll tell you about it after I check our current position. Now concentrate on docking and getting into the Bridge.” Markus had already pressed the auto-docking function and was only resting his hand on the joystick in the event he would have to take over. If there was danger on the Bridge, he wouldn’t have time to mess around by missing the docking clamps and having to back off and try again. He pressed the button on the radio. “Alright, guys, let’s do this fast,” said Markus, “and remember the school field trip to the Bridge we all took in grade school? The Bridge is one of the only two places on the ship that has negative gravitational mass. Don’t fall on your face.” “Thanks for the reminder, I forgot about the grav-plates,” replied Gaethon. “I never could wrap my head around the physics for those things,” said Tala. “Rarest element in the Universe,” said Gaethon. “They only found one limited source of it floating around a black hole.” “It’s a difficult concept to understand,” added Chief. “And it’s not so much that it’s rare, as it can’t be seen in its natural state, being that it’s formed from dark matter and defies the laws of physics. Diac plates, incorrectly named, but the name stuck, are subatomic particles forming their own one-directional gravitational orientation. And are insanely expensive to make. Only the Bridge and the Operating Room in the Hospital has them, and a few portable plates we use in engineering.” The gentle clicking sound and vibration through the hull of the pod docking signaled their arrival. Markus reached under his seat and retrieved a plasma pistol to the frowns and disapproval of Chief Gillian. “Sorry, Chief, Falor told me where he had the pistol hidden in here, and I’m not going in there unarmed.” Markus pressed the radio button again. “Go, go, go.” Markus pulled the lever to unlock the hatch even before the interior of the pod was completely depressurized. The hatch slammed open, but without an atmosphere, there was no sound as the hatch struck against the hull of the pod. He grabbed the edges of the hatch and pulled himself out with a well-practiced power-thrust as if he were playing g-ball. He grabbed the hand railing along the edge of the dock, flipped himself over to reorient his body position in one swift movement, and pushed off in a vertical position for the door. He held the plasma pistol out in front of himself as he passed through the open door to the Bridge. The artificial gravity took hold a moment later, dropping him to the ground with a satisfying thud as his metal boots hit the floor. It took a moment in the dim light to understand what he was looking at. His jaw clenched and he took a step back. Gaethon nearly ran him over as the big offensive guard g-ball player entered the Bridge at full speed. Gaethon whipped his head back and forth. “Holy merciful ancestors, what is this?” Markus looked down at a plasma rifle lying next to a body. “Grab that rifle.” “Slow your roll, boys,” said Chief, entering the Bridge. “This battle is long over.” Chief stepped across bodies strewn across the floor while Markus stared at the scorch marks on the ceiling and walls from plasma rifle fire. One of the boys on Gaethon’s team retched and ran back out of the Bridge when his eyes fell on a body with its armor blown open, exposing the gruesome contents of what was left inside. “Was this a mutiny?” whispered Gaethon. Gillian knelt next to three bodies draped over a fourth; all wearing golden eagle armor. “Here’s the adult Alarians, they died trying to protect the Captain. This wasn’t a mutiny, it was the last battle of a war that started long before the Morning Star launched.” Gillian pulled the three men off the Captain, then rolled him over and laid a hand on the man’s breast plate. “Oh, my friend, I warned you this would happen, be at peace now.” “It looks like the bad guys were mostly Rositites,” said Markus. “A fringe extremist group of Rositites,” said Chief. “Okay, but who are these other guys?” Markus knelt to inspect one of the white-winged men. “From the way their surrounding the Captain, I think they’re the good guys, and they have white wings like a Solanitte, but this armor isn’t anything I’ve ever seen before.” Chief stood and went to one of the bodies wearing the unusual armor. The helmet was black and gold, and looked much like an ancient knight’s helmet from antiquity, but coming over the crown of the helmet was the figure of a horse head with the mane flowing down the neck. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say it looks like…” “They’re Sky Knights,” interrupted a small voice. Markus turned to see Toma entering the Bridge, with Sarek right behind him. “I told you to keep them in the pod,” said Markus. Sarek shrugged. “I tried, but he got away from me. The darn kid flies like a…” Sarek saw the carnage on the Bridge and broke off his sentence. “Holy Ancestors… what the…” Markus glared at the boy. “Are you Toma?” “Yes.” “The Sky Knight Division was deactivated six hundred years ago, what makes you think these are Sky Knights?” “I’m a Sky Cadet.” Toma pointed at one of the bodies. “That’s my Uncle Bayaen, and that’s Kiera’s cousin Ariana,” said Toma, pointing at another body. Markus motioned for Sarek to take Toma back to the pod. “You’re wearing Swan armor, I don’t have time to play games. Go back to the pod with Sarek.” Toma pressed the controls on his breast plate and spun around with his wings outstretched. He screeched a warning that sounded like an eagle. Sarek, startled by the sudden attack, stumbled back and beyond the point where gravity began. Someone behind Sarek used his momentum to pull and toss him off the Bridge and out into the open cargo bay. Kirae entered the Bridge and dropped onto the deck. Toma spun back around, his wings still outstretched, but now he was wearing a miniature version of the same armor the bodies scattered on the ground wore. Kirae came up alongside Toma; she also was wearing the horse-head armor. Markus glanced at Chief Gillian. “Chief?” “I don’t know, I’ve never seen this before,” said Chief. “But there were rumors of a secret order that protected the Alarian bloodline. I just never put any stock in that rumor.” Toma pulled his wings in against his body. “We are Northern Alarians, the Horse People. I know how to find Ren, and I’m going to, and you’re not going to stop me.” Chief shook his head. “This is incredible, the entire race of Alarians believed extinct hiding among the Solanittes, and I certainly see how it was possible, you bare enough resemblance to the Solanittes to get away with it. But, I would think someone in the nursery would notice.” “None of us were born in the nursery,” said Kiera. “That would explain one mystery,” said Chief. “The X.O. was always complaining he couldn’t get the passenger manifest to add up. Okay, so what is your plan to find Ren?” “My dad said the Bridge can see pods even if the transponder is turned off,” replied Toma. “Well, that’s certainly true,” said Chief. “But it also depends on me being able to get the computers back on, and I’m not sure yet that I can. You should wait outside until we get this cleaned up in here.” “I’m not scared, I’ll help,” said Toma. “We thought someone was going to shoot us, but we’re okay now,” added Kiera. Gillian shook his head. “No, if you want my help, you need to wait outside. Neither of you need to see us dragging your uncle and cousin’s bodies out.” Kiera turned around, grabbed Toma’s hand and pulled him outside with her. Markus pushed a button on his radio to exclude them from listening in, then turned to Chief. “Do you believe them? Are they Alarians?” asked Markus. “I’ll know in a moment after I flip the power back on,” said Chief. “There’s an x-ray sensor pointed at the docking bay to check for weapons. I’ll just scan them both for an extra predator bone and know for sure.” Markus’ mouth turned up into a grin. “You sneaky old Rositite. I knew you couldn’t care less if they waded around in some blood, that’s a normal day for Rositite hatchlings. You just wanted to get them outside and in front of the scanner. So, do you really think you can get the power back on?” “Can’t you hear the oxygen generator fans running? The room is trying to pressurize, but we’ve got the doors open. Life support always comes back on automatically, but the circuit breaker needs flipped for everything else.” Gillian turned away and stepped over the body of the Captain on his way towards the electrical panel. Markus thought it sad for a moment, but the old Chief was a Rositite and had already said goodbye to his friend; Chief wouldn’t give the Captain another thought. If there was any one advantage to being a Rositite, it was their grief was quickly over. “The breaker probably flipped automatically when the nuke detonated,” continued Chief. “Go ahead and start taking these bodies to the morgue, we’ll cremate them later, and make sure you separate the armor. We’ll put the Eagle armor in the vault and give the Rositites and Alarians back their armor.” Markus furrowed a brow in confusion. “Wait… what nuke?” Chief stopped in front of the electrical panel and waved a hand absently. “You shouldn’t worry about the first nuke, that damage is already done. You should worry about the second nuke still chasing the ship.” “Umm… Chief, I think you’ve forgotten to tell us a few things.”

These are the only notes I use, everything else is in my head. Pod 2183 Gaethon, Hawk 2, one of Markus’ lieutenants, big flyback on Holentite High School Hawks g-ball team Kael, on Gaethon’s team. Pod 971 Sarek, Hawk 7, one of Markus’ lieutenants, defense end, Holentite High School Hawks G-Ball team Tala, Pod 332 Ren, Alarian, Emperor’s descendent, Alarian Eagle Armor Laena, Ren’s (girl) friend, Swan armor Toma, Ren’s adopted brother, Northern Alarian, praetorium, Sky Knight Cadet, Swan Armor, because their race is in hiding, but his armor has duel memory function, he also has the Horse armor. Kirae, Toma’s (girl) friend, Northern Alarian, praetorium, Sky Night Cadet, Swan Armor, because their race is in hiding Pod 76 Markus, Holentite boy, high school, hero quarter back on high school g-ball team Falor, Markus’ best friend, Hetenitte, Juvinal Deliquent, psuedo adopted son of mob boss Maera, Falor's sister, Markus’ girlfriend Aeyah, Markus' sister, Falor’s girlfriend Pod 211 Taslaen, Rositite, pod captain of the pod that spun out into space, Rositite, sociopath Saraen, brother to Taslaen, not the smartest boy, Rositite Brother 3 and 4 – no name yet Pod 56 Taerek, Jacarion boy, high school, science club, works for Falor Pod 543, Saline, Holentite girl, in charge of the nursery. Pod 283, Tanneth, Maera’s pilot and secret boyfriend. Maera is cheating on Markus by Holentite standards, but not by Rositite standards. It’s normal in Rositite culture for a Rositite girl to have several boyfriends or husbands. Sonai, Solanitte nation Northern Alaria. The White-Winged Horse People, hid in the mountains during the great revolution Great Revolution, the overthrow of the Alarian Empire 5000 years ago leading to the creation of the Common Wealth of Darai comprising 24 independent Nation States. Sky Knight Division, deactivated 600 years ago, one company reactivated 3 years later because of an assassination attempt on the Alarian. Female Warble, a sound female Darian’s make when in duress, usually involving their children, or in some cases, an older female sibling caring for younger siblings or other hatchlings. Maeken, Ren’s adopted father, deceased Jena, Ren’s adopted mother, deceased 625 pods, 2500 survivors Mathaen, Holentite teen, Taerek turned his little brother pink. Chief Gillian, 112 years old (average life span of a Darian is 130 years) Jaen, Gillian’s dead wife, saved the nursery Hetenitte (falcons) Solanitte (swans) Rositite (ravens) Holentite (hawks) Alarian (eagle) Jacarion (jackdaws) (of the Corvus region) Cori, Corvian (crows) (of the Corvus region) Linnae (Rooks) (of the Corvus region) Struthio (osterich) (Struthian) (black and white wings, and the only Darians not capable of flight), coastal Daria, inventors of the sailing ship Branneese (brandt) (seafaring, coastal region, first sailors, long naval tradition) Science notes: McKendree cylinder O’neill cylinder (the rings of the morning star) Built on the z-axis of the fuselage of the Morning Star 1st Ring, rotates clockwise, 2nd Ring, rotates counter-clockwise (rotating opposite directions necessary for a McDendree or O’neill cylinder to work. The Fuselage, where the colonist’s supplies are stored for when they arrive at the planet Secret histories to be revealed, maybe Origins of the Sky Knights Origin of Darai