JamesSavik

When the Alliance Civil War broke out 2549, the giant TranStellar corporations located in the Corporate Sector seceded from the Alliance and formed the Consolidated Federation (commonly called the ConFed). The ConFed consisted of five huge TransStellar corporations: Nakajima, MilTech, Venture, предприятие (Enterprise) and Gradient plus hundreds of smaller subsidiaries located in the sector. Those five corporations alone accounted for almost thirty percent of the Alliance GNP. In the beginning they had a small edge in technology but that edge was fleeting. The Corporate War took four long years of hard, bitter fighting. When it started neither side was ready for hostilities. Caught by surprise, both militaries struggled to adjust. The fighting was confused and sporadic. The two fleets fought a series of fierce, sharp inconclusive engagements between cruisers and destroyers. When the Alliance was able to bring their new battle cruisers and carriers into the fight, the ConFed fleet was thrown back and finally destroyed at the Battle of Pelenor. Historically the Corporate War was not much to brag about militarily on either side. At first it was a comedy of errors. Then it became a drama of attrition. Finally the weight of metal decided the matter. The Corporate War wasn’t that interesting compared to what happened afterwards. The Alliance liberated millions of genetically engineered slaves. That’s when things got interesting.

Missed one! The Nordia Incident by me!

I originally saw it back in early summer 1977. That summer my best friends older brother took us and we had a blast. If we were in that crowd, we would have fit right in. 501 jeans, concert t-shirts- Rush, Led Zep and the Eagles. School was out for the summer. Led Zeppelin had a new album out. Hotel California by the Eagles was all over the radio. We all knew a convenience store run by non English speakers who would sell beer to anybody and, nobody cared. We laughed at dumb kids sniffing glue while we smoked weed. Only the stupid kids did acid on a week day. Nobody called the cops. That was just rude. It was a very different world.

They send this guy for me, I'm gonna kick his azz.

When Shep said he was seeing a real fox....

Good dogs!

There's an old slogan in sports that I think apples. Just do it. You don't have to keep what you wrote but, it helps. It's a bit like exploring approaches. I know that there are chapters that I have written and re-written a dozen times. Then there is a dozen + 1 when the inspiration strikes... You never know which one that would be. I have a BIG story I'm stuck on. So I wrote a short story that discusses the back-story of the larger story. That exercise jump started the process and, things are moving again.

it is.

I get more likes from stupid cat pictures than my stories. *sighs*

Shush! No one knowz my tewweble secretz.

That's coming.

Live Now: The Nordia Incident

A week after the verdict, the entire Corporate Sector seceded from the Alliance and formed a political entity called the Consolidated Federation. Within the month the Corporate War, the civil war that everyone in the Alliance dreaded, had begun.

Admiral Jennings struck his gavel and brought the Inquiry to order. The gallery quieted and all attention focused on the board. He said, “Gentlemen, do you have a verdict?” Admiral Stewart stood and said, “Yes sir, we do your Honor. I will be speaking for the board.” Jennings said, “As to question one, how do you find?” Stewart said, “We find that Commander Glenn acted in the best traditions of the service in coming to the aid of the Brisbane Maru.” Jennings said, “As to

Rear Admiral Chan Liao, Rear Admiral Samuel Stewart and Commodore William Channing entered the conference room in order of seniority. They were attended by a navy steward in immaculate whites who left a pot of coffee and cups on a side table. The steward asked if the officers needed anything and excused himself when they declined. Liao said, “What was it that Bureau Agent called this—a bucket of snakes?” All three chuckled but there was a tone of bitterness in their laughter.

When the board convened after lunch the gallery was smaller. The Senators staffs were not present. Jennings pounded his gavel and called the proceedings to order. Captain Scott stood and said, “Many tall tales have been told about the Nordia Incident. “In one of those tales an Alliance Navy Officer boarded a corporate chartered freighter in the Nordia System for no apparent reason and seized the ship. “In another one of those tall tales, one interstellar corporation used unif

Captain Scott announced, “The board now calls Special Agent Anthony Burrows of the Alliance Bureau of Investigation.” A solid looking man in his late-fifties stood and approached the bench. Captain Scott said, “Agent Burrows, you understand that you are under oath?” He answered, “Yes sir, I do.” Scott said, “Please take the stand.” As Burrows took the stand, Captain Scott took a quick look at his computer pad and then at his watch. Apparently he was satisfied with what he saw

Captain Scott said, “At this time the Board calls Rachel Ruiz.” A middle aged woman in a smart business suit approached the bench. Scott asked, “Mrs. Ruiz, you understand that you are testifying under oath?” “Yes, I do, Captain,” she replied. “Please take the stand.” Captain Scott took a brief look at his computer pad and said, “Mrs. Ruiz, could you tell us your occupation?” “I am a senior maritime incident investigator for Federated Securities and Casualty. I head

Captain Scott announced, “The board calls Lt. Barinder Singh— Chief Engineer of the Callahan.” Lt. Singh approached the witness box, was reminded that he was under oath, and Scott said, “Please be seated Lt. Singh. Could you tell us your part in the story.” Singh said, “I was aboard Callahan the whole time sir. The skipper doesn’t let his chief snipe get out much.” There were chuckles all around and Scott asked, “But you did play a significant role.” “Once the XO took a comm

Captain Scott said, “The board calls Callahan’s Executive Officer—Lt. Commander Andrew McCann.” As Lt. Commander McCann approached the witness box Admiral Stewart pulled up his record on this computer pad. McCann had thirty-two years in the service. He had spent the last five with Glenn on the Callahan. What would make a man who was not ever going to command a ship stay in two years past retirement? Another rarity was he was older than his skipper by a decade. As Admiral Stewart scroll

Captain Scott stood and said, “The board calls Commander Richard Glenn, commanding officer of the Raymond Callahan, DD-1023.” Commander Glenn stood and approached the witness box. He stopped, stood at attention and snapped off a parade ground salute to the president of the board.” Captain Scott said, “You understand that you are under oath?” Commander Glenn replied, “I do sir.” “Please take the witness box.” Once Glenn was seated, Captain Scott asked, “Commander Glenn, p