“Ugh,” Rec pinched the bridge of his nose. “That’ll have to be Future Rec’s problem. I’m not in the mood today.” He stood up from the desk and the displays darkened. “I’m going to settle in. Custodian bunk in the usual place?”
“Yes.”
“Great,” Rec said. “I know the way. What’s working by way of recreation?”
“Simulators are offline due to insufficient processing power and the gymnasium is currently without atmosphere.”
“Of course.” Rec rolled his eyes. “Does my bunk have an exercise nook, at least?”
“Yes.”
“Is the entertainment console working?”
“Yes.”
“That’ll have to do then. Thanks, Theta.”
“My pleasure, Rec.”
An alarm pinged.
“Oh great,” Rec sighed. “What now?”
“The descent shuttle has lifted off from the landing platform.”
“What?” Rec ran to the small observation window near the airlock. Though it was hard to see through the storm, the lights of the shuttle were clearly visible as it rose into the sky. He watched in stunned disbelief until the lights disappeared into the clouds. “Theta?”
“Yes Rec?”
“Call the shuttle back.”
“I tried. It is refusing to obey my commands.”
“Why?”
“Unknown.”
Rec massaged his temples. “I swear,” he muttered. “All I wanted was some light entertainment and a decent night’s sleep. Was that too much to ask?”
“Rec?”
Rec sighed and shook his head. “Never mind. Contact the transport and see if you can use it to bring the shuttle back down.”
He was answered by silence.
“Theta?”
“Yes?”
“Contact the transport and--”
“I received and understood your request.”
“Well?”
More silence.
“Theta?”
“The transport is not responding to my commands.”
An uneasy feeling crept over Rec. “Why not?”
“I would... rather not say.”
“Why not?” The uneasy feeling made itself comfortable.
“You’re not going to like it.”
The uneasy feeling stopped messing around and just turned into an overwhelming sense of dread. Rec took a deep breath. “Tell me anyway.”
“The transport is...” Theta’s voice trailed off into static.
“Come on, Theta,” Rec said irritably. “I’ve had a long day and this headache is overstaying its welcome. Spit it out.”
“The transport is leaving orbit.”
“What?!”
“It finally responded to my ping,” Theta said. “It explained that it recalled the shuttle as it prepared to leave the system on a course for Imperial space.”
“What? Why? How did it..?” Rec sputtered and stammered. “Call it back!”
“I tried,” Theta said. “My commands have been overridden by the Central Oligarchy.”
“Do they know a Custodian had already made planetfall?”
“Yes.”
Rec slumped against a wall. “But that means...”
“Yes,” Theta said. “It appears you’ve been abandoned here.” A sympathetic tone colored the electronic voice, “I told you that you weren’t going to like it.”
Chapter 2
Greetings Citizens and Congratulations! By joining the Colonial Services, the civilian arm of the Exploration Corps of the Allied Solar Republics, you have chosen a life of adventure only dreamed of on the Core worlds! From valiant starship captains and their stalwart crews, going boldly where none have gone before, to you, our brave colonists, sowing the seeds of galactic civilization in their wake, the future of the ASR is in good hands.
Now, if each of you will sync your comm tablets to the frequencies provided, you will discover the vital and essential job you will be doing to ensure that bright future. Please initiate--
The recording stopped abruptly.
“What are you doing, Rec?” Theta asked.
Rec sighed, wiping his eyes. “Nothing,” he said. “Just a bit of nostalgia.” He swallowed the last of his caffeinated protein drink.
“Where did you find that file?” Theta asked. “It referenced the Allied Solar Republics, and--”
“I know. All records of the ASR, down to the last mention, were scrubbed in the data purges following the war.” Rec shook his head. “But the Stellar Imperium never bothered with the hab templates. It was easier to just cut the welcome presentation from the activation sequence.” He stood up from the console, crossed to the small kitchen area, and dropped his flask in the sterilizer. A red light flared amid a loud buzz.
“Sterilizers aren’t working,” Theta said.
Rec rolled his eyes and fished the flask out of the chute. “Of course they aren’t,” he muttered. “Fine. I’ll wash it by hand.” As he washed the flask in a small sink, he said, “As for where I found it, well, I know my way around hab systems.”
“I hope you understand,” Theta said, “that I am required to delete that recording.”
“I figured.”
“All references to the Allied Solar Republics are deemed--”
“Seditious, I know.”
“As established by--”
“Imperial Directive Seven,” Rec sighed. “Yes, Theta. I know. Go ahead and delete the recording.”
“Recording deleted.” A silence followed that Rec was certain had been exactly calculated for maximum discomfort. “I am also required--”
“To report me?” Rec laughed. “Go ahead. What’s the Central Oligarchy going to do? Exile me?” He gestured with a soap covered hand in the direction of a camera. “And anyway, don’t you Hab AI systems have a certain amount of latitude in situations like this?”
“Some,” Theta admitted. “In this instance, a case could be made for a certain degree of emotional distress on your part, which would recommend leniency.” A pause, during which Rec dried the flask. “I have decided to refrain from reporting this activity to the Central Oligarchy.”
“Thanks, Theta,” Rec grinned. “You’re a real pal.”
“You know quite a bit about how my systems work.”
Rec shrugged and hung the towel on it’s hook. “As I said, I know my way around.” He smiled. “This isn’t my first planetfall.”
“According to my records, you’ve been in Colonial Services all your life.”
“Sure have.” Rec placed the flask on a rack. “I was born on Artemis 4, scion of a proud lineage of Corps officers and colonists who grew up on tales of the Golden Age of Galactic Expansion. My mother’s great-great-grandmother was captain of the Venture. She led the mission that mapped the Omega Sector and made first contact with the Venet. My father could trace his ancestry all the way back to the founders of the Rim Worlds. Apparently, I’m descended from Aiden Valor.”
“First Governor of Luxor?”
“That’s the one.”
“You do have quite the lineage.”
“Yeah.” Rec busied himself checking vital systems of the hab. All appeared nominal. “I used to dream of following in their footsteps, but...” He shrugged.
“Outward expansion
