I am Cassian Blackthorn, or
Cas for short. I am around 6 feet, which is an average build. I look casual to
blend in bars or a crowd, and if I get into trouble, I can get out of dodge
with anyone following me. I wear boots with black
pants tucked in the pants. I had a charcoal gun belt holster. I got a grey
long-sleeved T-shirt and a black leather jacket. It was very worn-looking, but
it did the job. My gun is a pistol blaster model v 45 from my home planet,
Veridian, which I've heavily modified to fire very quickly and accurately. You
never know when you Will need it, especially as a smuggler. Some people called
me a loveable rouge and always getting into trouble. Some people thought I had
someone in every spaceport. But that's not true. That side of me was just for
show for everyone else to see. Anyways, I can talk myself out of trouble. I've always
tried to keep myself on the right side of the law. I worked hard to get to this
point, And I got all my pilot licenses many years ago. I work for two
and three companies to get my fright licences from light and heavy fright. I
have put in a lot of effort to achieve the level of skill that I currently
possess. Once I set my mind to something, I am determined to achieve it. I
earned my pilot's license several years ago to demonstrate my abilities to
others. I could fly a hover speeder from nine or ten or something like that. I
was shown how to fly them from the age of six. I've always been able to pick
things up fast. I knew how to do it before I was shown how to do things. I was
always good at playing card game like I had. It was, in a sense, that did get
me in trouble all because people said I was cheating all the time. But that's
not true. I just knew that they had somehow. I did wonder how I knew what they
had in their hand. I just thought I was good at reading people.
I am a charismatic and daring
smuggler who frequently acts in my interest, yet I consistently make ethical
choices. My expertise as a pilot and in combat dramatically contributes to my
effectiveness. Everyone knows how good I
am at what I do if I say I am myself. I am not being cocky. When I say it, I am
good at talking out of trouble or whatever big mess I get into. I am good at
what I do, so I earn Aurelium, like Gold from Earth. I get bored from time to
time by both sides: security, police or military security. I would ask what they
need transport for, where and when. I would tell them to pay extra if they
don't have any military entanglement. That's where being an excellent pilot
comes in handy. It becomes useful if you can fly quickly and know what they are
doing before they do. It also helps to talk yourself out of trouble and charm
yourself out of things.
My co-pilot is Zyloq Thrix,
but I call Z for short; he's tall, slender, and extra-terrestrial with
shimmering, iridescent blue skin. It has an oval-shaped Head with large,
almond-shaped black eyes, small breathing openings below the eyes, and a thin,
lipless mouth. Instead of traditional hair, it has long, flexible tendrils.
Zyloq's hands and feet have six digits with retractable claws, and their
overall posture is upright yet fluid. It wears a close-fitting,
Metallic-looking garment adorned with intricate patterns that light up. This creature
exudes an aura of Aurorae intelligence, and its appearance is otherworldly and
captivating. Z and I have been through a lot together, and our bond is
unbreakable. We understand each other without words, and our teamwork is
unparalleled.
We could do with more crew to
fly, maintain the spaceship and do anything else. But we seem to get it done
between us. We worked together for so long that we knew what each other would
do before we did what each Other did. We have a droid that helps us to do
things. The spaceship computer helps with navigation at breakneck speeds, drives
the autopilot, and diagnoses spaceships. We had made some modifications to the spacecraft.
It had some hidden guns they shot on auto at anything that moved. These guns
were a precautionary measure, used when we were on the ground if anything
undesirable came along or anyone wanted how to board us. Before I was a
smuggler, I was a freight pilot. I delivered machinery, tools, medical equipment,
medicine, food and drinks. It paid us okay, especially if you get back-to-back deliveries
from one planet to the other. I was always careful it was not illegal, as far
as I knew. So, if we got Boarded by any official types, I could show them what
they needed, and hopefully, they would be on their way and keep them happy. Sometimes,
the fewer questions asked, the better for a few reasons: time is money, and the
other point is you don't want your ship to strip apart and the impounded they
pay to get in the back and then the time to put back together afterwards. We
don't need any hazel in our type of business and get a bad reputation, which is
also bad for business'
I got into any problems with from
very high up in our military its an Admiral Nyra Driftshore. She gave me Quantum Medal of Gallantry the medal
has the date it was present to the person how reserved it. This one was over
hundred years old and been handed down thought her family. This is a depiction
of the Quantum Medal of Gallantry. It features a sleek, cutting-edge design
that merges military honour with elements of advanced science. The medal has a
circular centre, roughly 3 inches in diameter, encircled by a hexagonal frame,
symbolizing a quantum lattice structure. Crafted from polished iridise alloy, a
rare metallic material with a shimmering blue-violet tint that subtly changes colour
depending on the angle of view. At the heart of it, there's a translucent
crystal disc embedded with delicate lines that create an abstract
representation of a quantum waveform or particle trajectory, faintly
illuminated by built-in nanolights. It is inscribed with a phrase in High Galactic
Standard or an ancient Earth script: "For Valour Beyond the Observable
Horizon." The ribbon is a deep shade of midnight black, featuring slender
silver and cyan streaks that represent space-time threads and the mysteries of
the universe. It is personalized with the recipient's name, the date, and the
specific act of bravery for which it was awarded.
I
got it of her when the trouble started between us. She asked if I could bring
her sisters family across to the Verdian from as you can imagine when the war
was in it very days. She also had her grandfather was living on Aquilonis
because her was looking after him. I knew getting him across was not going to
be easy at all because of his medical conditions. He had breathing problems and
hart conditions so we had bring all his equipment with him. But I had to say it
went very smoothly it seemed to go to easy. That when the problem happened it
was just was we landed on Veridian continent by the medical centre. There
government officials came to greet me asking me what am I doing here and what
have I got on the ship. I was lucky that Admiral Nyra Driftshore was
there to greet us to explain what I was doing for her. Once she had soured
things out she come to me and thanked me for what I did her. Then gave me this
medal and said if I was in any trouble show them this it will verifiy how you
are working for as her military name holds a lot of weight in her government. I was shipping parts from one side
to the other without any problems at all she asked me for some trips back and
forth too. I did not charge her because I was getting paid for the cargo anyway
plus I knew she would if in handy if I had any problems with her government as
she was an Admiral.
It was very hard to get thing across to
both side of our planet so she knew me from we was building the ship for race
to Earth.
She was born in the Ardent Shoals Archology,
which orbits Aquilonis Prime, to a hydro-engineer and a tactical officer from
the Stellar Navy. She graduated at the top of her class in astrophysics and
battle strategies from the Vanguard Naval Academy. She initially gained fame
for her role in suppressing pirate corsairs during the Solara Fringe Conflicts.
During the Kaelor Drift Siege,
she took charge of a critical defence for a civilian evacuation fleet against
enemy forces that were more powerful. Despite suffering significant casualties,
her efforts saved over 40,000 lives and earned her the nickname Tidewarden.
Currently, she holds the rank
of Admiral, commanding the Aegis Horizon Battle Group, which is responsible for
border security and fleet operations in disputed regions. Lately, she has
become increasingly concerned about political meddling and clandestine
influences affecting the war effort—possibly even suspecting the existence of a
hidden third power at work.
I am Stuck
in the middle of the biggest battle you've ever seen, just
trying to survive. I'll always seem to survive no matter what I get myself
into. I smudged things from both sides. The only thing I would do is not smudge
any weapons or bombs. It was primarily medical staff and anyone who needed
something. The overall look of this futuristic spaceship would be a seamless
blend of form and function, exuding an aura of advanced technology and
streamlined efficiency. It would stand as a testament to humanity's sanity and
ambition in exploring the far reaches of the cosmos.
My spaceship is called the
Quantum Phantom, or Phantom for short. It features two engines: one for
short-distance movements and another for landing or docking. The ship is
incredibly powerful, equipped with an antimatter engine that uses
matter-antimatter annihilation to generate immense thrust. Additionally, it
boasts a Quantum Slipstream Drive, a revolutionary propulsion system that utilises
quantum entanglement and spatial folding to create a slipstream through
space-time. This allows the Phantom to travel at speeds far exceeding the speed
of light speed to 10,000 times faster (light speed is called Graviton Splice).
However, I managed to push it to an astonishing 14,000 times the speed of
light. The only downside is that it consumes significantly more fuel at this
speed.
The Phantom is equipped with
Adaptive Shielding Technology, which features a dynamic shielding system that
adjusts to various dangers in space, such as cosmic radiation, micrometeoroids,
and enemy attacks. This technology uses energy fields and layers of nannies. The
ship also redirects potential threats.
Adding it to the replicating includes
an Artificial Gravity Matrix with planet-like efficiency. While it has a few
extra features, it provides everything necessary for my journeys. The Phantom
is fast and has hidden compartments under the floor and walls for smuggling
various items, allowing me to transport discreetly when needed.
Now, let me tell you more
about my fantastic spaceship. Picture a futuristic marvel, a seamless blend of
form and function radiating cutting-edge technology and unmatched efficiency.
This vessel features two impressive propulsion systems: first, the Antimatter
Engine harnesses matter-antimatter annihilation to propel us with immense
force. Second is the quantum slipstream drive, which uses quantum entanglement
and spatial folding to transport us through space-time at speeds exceeding the
speed of light. We're talking about the ability to travel with intergalactic
allies at speeds of up to 14,000 times the speed of light!
But that's not all. The ship
is equipped with Adaptive Shielding Technology, a dynamic defence system that
adapts to various threats like cosmic radiation to enemy attacks. Moreover, the
artificial gravity matrix ensures we experience earth-like conditions, keeping
us comfortable and efficient during our daring voyages.
It was only some If it is like
this, I'll start from the beginning. It was a peaceful planet called Xyrlaxis:
it is 92.96 million miles from our sun. Other plants travel in the same orbit
as ours, but it's 46 million miles from ours. Well, this is what happened on
our planet about 20 years ago. Two continents were sitting on the equator. They
were about 3.500 miles apart and were used to help each other if we needed
anything. We were all well just before the trouble started. The two continents
are called Aquilonis, where I was from, and the other side. Is called Verdian.
We live in the Xyrlaxis plant, but this is where the problem started. A probe
had landed on our planet, so both sides downloaded the data. We found it was
from Earth. It had all kinds of information on it, like the history of the
Earth, all its music, films, entertainment, sports, and all the sciences and
mythical equations.
The probe also had a counter
saying how long it had been sent from Earth. So, The Aquilonis and Veridians
decided to work together to build a ship at First. But someone suggested that
the continents work, which may help make both us build the ships faster. Plus,
they would have two ships if one failed. They both agreed on the specifications
of the spaceships. It had to be Fast spaceships to get the area in someone's
lifetime. They both would use the one the spacecraft would go to Earth. Both
sides decided the ship needed to use Quantum Slipstream Drive to get there in a
lifetime. It also requires lots of time to build them and pool the resources,
such as money and materials, each need from both sides. If one continent did not
need Something, they would see if the other side needed it.
I can almost feel the
adrenalin pulsing through my veins as I tell you this: here I am, Cass, and I'm
caught in a thematic battle for survival. But guess what? I always manage to survive,
no matter what challenges! I'm a bit of a maverick – I've dabbled in both sides
of the conflict, but one thing's for sure – I never mess with weapons or bombs.
I've always been there for those in need, providing medical assistance and
support to anyone who requires it.
Let's rewind and journey back
to Xyrlaxis, a planet 92.96 million miles from our sun, with other neighbouring
planets orbiting within 46 million miles. Fifty years ago, a mysterious probe
from Earth sparked a rivalry between the continents Aquilonis and Veridian.
Both sides raced to harness their knowledge and technology to build a
spaceship. The thrilling competition is on to see whose ship will reach Earth
first. With fast spaceships aiming to reach Earth within a lifetime, prepare
for a breath-taking adventure through the cosmos. The stakes are high, the
excitement palpable are you ready for the ride of a lifetime? Because I sure
am!
So it was all going great.
Both sides worked at the same speed, getting up and testing the spaceships. They
both stated that they were running the engines in their space dock before the
big test to see if they would work at the fastest speeds. So, it's been about 30
years ago. Getting resources and technology just for the engines takes a lot of
time. Then, they had to build a spaceship around whatever path they had brought
for the engines to power the spaceships. Both spaceships looked very different.
Our one looks like a very stressed line so that it could land in an atmosphere
like Earth. They looked bulky because they would send tiny spaceships down to
the surface of Earth. You could do whatever spaceship shape you like in space
because there's no friction. So, it was a cube versus a streamlined ship. It would
go at the same speed in space in therapy. Any Item moving through space. It
will maintain its velocity and direction unless it is influenced to change.
This concept is Newton's second law of motion. Space contains many objects, so
consistent movement typically doesn't last long. They kept building and testing
new designs, but some did not work and blew up. That's how both sides got
better at building spaceships. So, as it approached the end of the building,
Both spaceships and the final
testing were about 19 years ago. Our ship from my plant just blew up on its
own! During the final testing, everything looked fine and ran smoothly. Then,
it was a catastrophic failure that blew into millions of pieces. They did an
inversion of what had to happen. It would take a few months to work through all
the data and any video records of the ship from the outside of it. Someone
thought it was an accident, and someone else thought it was sabotage, but no
one wanted to jump to conclusions. They started to get all the parts of the
ship so they Could find out what had happened and see if they could use any
parts to build a new spaceship. As they started looking at all the parts, they
found something Strange: residue on some parts of what was left on one of the
engines. The microchips were tucked In the casing, but it was not one of
theirs. So, they put the microchip to one side so it could be looked at, but
engineers had to do a full diagnostic assessment and see what markings were on
it to see where it came from. As some had thought, after one month into the
investigation, they found the chip was from Veridian!!!! So, the report was
written to our heads of state and government, telling them what they had
discovered about the expansion and what had coursed it. It explained when it
happened and how It could have done this.
We contacted the Veridian
government to inquire about their position on the expansion and to determine if
they knew about our ship's sabotage. We did not reveal our findings regarding
the explosion. The Veridian government claimed unaware of what had occurred but
offered to assist with the investigation if needed. However, at that time, we
declined their offer. Instead, we informed them that we would disclose the
cause of the explosion that led to the destruction of our spaceship. This was a
delaying tactic to make them believe that we were responsible or that a part of
the spacecraft malfunctioned.
Simultaneously, we sent an
engineer to Veridian to inspect their ship and their actions. The engineer
verified if they had a similar type of microchip, which was used for the bomb
that destroyed our spaceship. They found a microchip that closely resembled the
one in our possession. We aimed to confirm that it was not made to appear like
Veridian's microchip. It would help us determine whether someone else
manufactured or investigated them. If it was the latter, we must investigate
those who declined and did not construct spaceships to travel to Earth.
We believe we have identified
the individuals responsible for the bomb attacks. However, we still need to
understand their motives and their methods. After our investigations, tensions
escalated, and Veridian wanted us to
share our findings about the spaceship explosion with the people Of Aquilonis. Understandably,
our citizens were outraged and demanded to know our plans for addressing the
situation. Subsequently, we dispatched our dignitaries to Veridian to discuss
the matter. The Veridian assured you that we were not involved in the explosion
of our spaceship and expressed Their outrage regarding the situation. They
would like to see the microchip we found, the parts of the ship's explosion. We
declined their request, but we sent detailed pictures of it and what information
we found on it.
That's when everything went wrong.
The Veridian claimed that they had been set up and had done nothing wrong, so
we began by relocating all the military on their borders and redirecting all of
their missiles toward us. We took the same actions, so tensions were very high.
Any wrong move from either side could trigger an all-out war, and it did. Now,
it seems like a visit to Earth Was well off the table, so we
all thought. We discovered that Veridian was still building its spaceship to go
to Earth. Of course, where they knew how long it would take us to start
building a new one from scratch. So, everyone on Aquilonis said that's why they
blew up our spaceship. We were behind us in building their spaceship, which did
not work anyway. So, our government told
the Veridians that if they sent a spacecraft to Earth, we would blow it up straight
away, just like you did to our spacecraft. So, this is where it all started in
the war between Verdian and us, and it is still going on for the next 18 years
with hounds of thousands and thousands dead and injured, and families split apart
from each other. SO, BACK TO THE PRESENT DAY, WHEREI AM
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BIGGEST BATTLE YOU'VE EVER SEEN.