From the Files of the Deep Ranger Constabulary (Forward Base, Movaine/Icehenge)
The following is a classified interview transcript from the files of the Deep Rangers.
Interviewer: Good morning, I’m Colonel Ruzzel. Please state your name for the record.
Akira: My name is Akira Zappora, thirty ninth son of the Suri Zappora. You laugh and don’t believe me huh? You’re wondering how could the son of Suri Zappora wind up here?
Interviewer: I repeat, please state your name, your real name.
Akira: My name is Akira.
Interviewer: State your age.
Akira: Seventeen standard years.
Interviewer: Now Mr. Akira could you please state for the record what you were trying to accomplish by stealing Commandant Stanton’s personal jump yacht four days ago?
Akira: I’ve explained that to you five times already.
Interviewer: Humor me.
Akira: I wasn’t stealing it I just needed to catch up with my ship before it got far enough out to jump. Then I would have programmed it to return.
Interviewer: You expect me to believe this? I’m sure you can come up with a better story than that. Do it!
Akira: As I’ve already stated my name is Akira Zappora, thirty-ninth son of Suri Zappora. I was born aboard Po Pathfinder Quest for Enlightenment. I am the only surviving embryo of batch SZ023. Zappora clan runs a strict genetic program. All children are vat grown, no live births are allowed. Suri believes that genetic material is too valuable to chance to a miscarriage, plus having a pregnant crewmember not only pulls someone off duty but endangers the live of that crew member. We spend most of our young lives in a community nursery and start training by the age of three. By the age of five I was placed in a pilot track until the age of fourteen when I was upgraded to the Infiltrator track.
During this time I trained in advanced trading techniques and excelled in my group. I graduated two weeks ago and was in the running for a post with Quests top Infiltrator team.
My cousin Tsushima, who was also up for the same post, and myself were allowed to take shore leave at your port to celebrate our graduating with top honors. After making our rounds at a few of the local clubs we would up at a placed called the Crimson Monkey. There my cousin tried to hook up with some local girl but her boyfriend and some of his buddies didn’t take kindly to it and a scuffle started. I tried to cool things off but I was hit from behind and I blacked out. I woke up the next morning in a gutter with a splitting headache and my cousin nowhere in sight. I hurried to the Quests berth only to find that it had pulled out. We had always been warned not to miss call but I never thought they would leave with out me.
You see Colonel, to a spacer there is no more horrible fate than being left behind in port. Missing call results in the loss of your ship share not to mention the fact that it puts you out of synch with everyone you know and care about in the world. By the time Quest reaches port here again I will have gained ten years on my contemporaries.
I was desperate to get back on the Quest. As I sat in the empty berth I noticed the yacht. It was warming up and no one was around. I swear I only meant to borrow it to regain my ship.
Interviewer: Do realize young man the damage you caused when you broke dock? Why didn’t you try to contact the Quest if it is your ship?
Akira: That occurred to me on the Governor’s ship. I hailed Quest on the communication console and spoke to Second Captain Shuji. The Second Captain is Tsushima’s mother. She told me Tsushima reported to her that I had told him I was not returning to the ship that I had met a girl and and planned to stay on station. I told her Tsushima was lying but it fell on deaf ears. She told me I was guilty of dereliction of duty. I demanded to speak to my father but she refused reminding me that on this shift she was captain and had the final word. That’s when I became desperate and decided to borrow the yacht. I knew if I could speak to one of the other captains they would listen to my side of the story.
Interviewer: A very sad story indeed, but merely a story I’m afraid. I don’t think you realize the trouble your in Mr. Akira. Would you like to start over and this time the real story please.
Akira: This is madness! How many times do I need to tell you in order to be believed.
Interviewer: Please state your name for the record…