Pirate Cadet Kids

By Keith D. Hickman

Pirate Cadet Kids is an exciting adventure that transverses time and space. A group of teenagers are seeking adventure in the vas darkness of space. They join the intergalactic space program with the highest fortitude and tenacity. On their maiden voyage they come under attack. The Captain of the Wind Wash has them sent to their sleepers at the height of the battle. When awoken later they find the ship quiet and alone. They crash land on an alien planet and in an alien universe millions of light years away. They have to learn to fight, and live as a team. In order to survive on this harsh and unforgiving world they are on.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496924803

Keith D. Hickman

My first three books, Ten Bears To Destiny, Death To Freedom  Part I & II, P-IRATE Kids. Ten Bears to Destiny had a hint of truth to it. My great, great grandmother on a wagon train from the Shenandoah Valley made two quilts. One is in a museum in Indiana and my oldest sister  Marguerite has the other. My family first came to James Town and then established Shenandoah Valley where the Civil War started on or family farm. They then went to establish Corydon Indiana the old state capital. My farther was in WWII 101st Airborne, his brother flew 63 missions as a tail gunner, another lead the Army Band, another stayed home and took care of the farm. I grew up in South Shore on Chicago South Side. Joined the Submarine Service at 18 and retired early at 35. Both of my sisters husbands are also retired Navy and from Chicago South and West Sides. I'm currently  a Engineer at my local hospital in Porterville Ca. My wife Josie an I have three children and ten grandchildren.

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© 2014 Keith Hickman. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/11/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2481-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-2480-3 (e)

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This is in grateful appreciation to the late Jonathan Casey who took P-IRATE KIDS and made this classic Sci-fi novel. Jonathan always wanted to write a Sci-fi but was unable to. When he read P-IRATE KIDS he saw a great Sci-fi hidden in it. He called and asked if he could make the changes and I said go for it. I wish he had been able to finish it before his untimely demise. I added the finishing touches and if you read the two novels you will see just how much is Jonathan. I know he’s jumping for joy in heaven to see his work finally finished.

CONTENTS

The Offering

1=   The Introduction

2=   Before The Dawn

3=   The Voyage Out

4=   Recalled Recon

5=   A Brave New World

6=   The Balance Of Power

7=   Contest, Loss And Re-Wielding

8=   We’re Under Attack

9=   The Expeditions

10=   The Mission

11=   A Simple Contest And A New Mission

12=   The Mountain Of Fire And The Eavesdropping Teams

13=   The Awakening

THE OFFERING

Since the dawn of time, the youth of humanity has been, and still are infatuated with the ideas and desires; which are forged into a deep seeded need …for adventure. The seeking for this kind of adventure lies in their quest to be set free from under the authority they had grown up with. It is also a freedom from the routines that had filled their everyday lives. The everyday living within there limited world of true experience.

This is the true driving force, regardless of how magnificently rich, intensively engrossing, or increasingly expansive said routine’ maybe to others. In fact this can be called the only true driving force able to draw them into being adventurous as they grow on throughout their lives.

Truly, to the youth of the world such adventure has, and forever will; hold that engrossing flavor which yearns to exist within their bodies, minds, spirits and soles. It has done so from the beginning to eternity. For those fresh with life, because of the seemingly endless possibilities for exploration and discoveries of what had been unknown to them before. With this in mind, therefore, we offer here, just such a story of adventure, escape and discovery. It is a story of a number of youths in their quest to meet the world of adventure on their own predetermined terms. Involving all of the challenges they encounter. As in the love, anger, conflicts, and the subsequent distresses. That these notions entail when embarking on this grand adventure.

More than that, this is a story of youth! Of finding of themselves suddenly set free into the adventure of their lives!

CHAPTER 1

THE INTRODUCTION

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Among the many worlds of educational institutions. There is one of the most esteemed, which is Oxford’s Astronomical University. A campus maintained on Luna One of Earth. Originally was formed University of Oxford England on Earth. It has been, and still is one of the most prestigious coveted of institutions into which, the most brilliant of minds seek entrance. In the year thirty fifty-three, Elizabeth Shannon had just been elected as the Presiding Secretary over the Alliance of Interplanetary Societies of Sol-System One. At that time only the most wealthy … most influential and intelligent young men and women could only dream of being too admitted to either these institutions of higher education. It was, to state it mildly, ‘the elite of the elite.’ And only the elite of the elite could justify a true desire (with any probability whatsoever) of ever being allowed to darken these hallowed halls of academia.

Mrs. Edmond paused shortly from her reading to look over the students of her third period History class. But then, before returning to her reading from her hand held library pad, she added in way of her own personal commentary; … of course now days, it is no longer just the wealthy, but all who can demonstrate a competence to perform to the required standards of learning who can be admitted.

Lifting the library pad back before her face, she continued with a vivid interest for the information she held in high esteem. This bleed over into her words with excitement, In this particular year, the year 3053, she when on … among the multiples of hopefuls, were nine who stood out from the rest, not only their talent, skill and aggressive competitive drives; but also for their surpassing combative proficiency as well.

Again lowering her pad, she reminded her class, As you will recall during the preceding decades. There had been at civil war between many of the Planetary Governments, and that of the Socialistic Government of Earth. The outcome of which brought the tentative, and yet still volatile interim peace accord called the Alliance of Interplanetary Societies (A.I.S.). Even though it later lead to a more permanent form of unification. There were still factions of mistrust, and therefore nearly all of the higher educational institutions. They were still centering a large portion of their instructions on military protocol.

"But I digress … moving on. One of these nine was Leonardo Del La Cross Dorado, a young Spanish pupil from the Bedcross province of Mars. Who had demonstrated an extraordinary level of skill in tight-band foilsman ship? Having been taught by one of the foremost experts of this art living in his time. Master Bowditch, an accomplished Galactic Navigator, and Foilsman. Who had bestowed upon the youth of fifteen years nearly all he had to offer. Indeed, by his fifteenth birthday, young Leonardo had mastered six interplanetary dialects. He had excelled above most of those who were older, and more experienced than him. He was proficient in the arts of Foil-Fencing, Close Quartered Combat, and in Extra-celestial Navigation.

Being considered as well was a young son of a wealthy ore minor from the City of Neither Ross on Uranus’ third satellite Umbriel. Xaing Kao, a student majoring in Thermal Static Radiation Propulsion. He had also demonstrated great skill in Plasma Energy Generation, and of Hand-to-Hand Combat, Tight-Band Foilsman-Ship, and in fact, had no equal within his peers.

Next from Paris France an Earth province, there was Pepe’ Le Lippiton. This young man had already demonstrated an extremely fluent understanding of four of the major languages within the A.O.P.. He held his province’s championship in foil fencing for the previous six years running, … before being considered for enrolment into Oxford’s exclusive Celestial Academy, for the continuance of his education.

Portugal (also a province of Earth) that year, sent there very best to apply to this University of Oxford’s Celestial Academy as well. Rosetta Isabelle La Rosado was a highly recognized mathematician who practiced Quantum Triangulation; but was also an unsurpassed Geo-Thermal Dynamics expert in the Field of Planetary Research. She had not only demonstrated exceptional skill in Tight-Band Foilsman-Ship. But had also developed a form of Lumafoil-Field Generator Manufacturing that surpassed nearly any other Field-Generator’s known to man at that time. This is also a process that is still favored by many to this day. This girl of sixteen had also excelled in the fields of Application Processes for Theoretical Galactic Quantum. Her navigational skills are well above nearly all within her age bracket.

Then there was Eric Von Braun, a German from New Deli of Luna base four. He was born a nobleman’s son. He was an expert in Mountain Climber, and an Artesian in the Execution of Exceptional Broadband Foilsman-Ship. Indeed, Mrs. Edmond went on with an addition to what she had been reading. She looked up from her Library Pad to look over the class and noted briefly their bent heads as they were engaged in trying to read along with her. She continued with her commentary concerning the individual as the class looked up to take in what she had to say. His skills with Manipulation Flex-Beams, Broadband Foilsman-Ship, and Tactical Strategic Planning. Along with his almost Psychic-Like Huntsman’s Cunning, continues to be matchless by anyone from his district, even to this vary date. She breathes with a heavy sigh. Then turning back to her Library Pad, she continues with the reading.

From Neptune’s deep methane mines, in the province of her secondary level, and from the docks of San Pedro on the Moon Eta-U2, a mining colony station situated deep within Neptune’s Ammonium Ocean. Applied a young man by the name of David, (or ‘Davy,’ as he was most frequently called by those who knew him) Jones. By the way, he was also an accomplished magician … Mrs. Edmond interjected for the benefit of her class before continuing with what was actually written in the pad she held in her hand. He held three Fencing Championships in the Sol-3 Championship Games. His accomplishments also include a keen aptitude in the Fields of Applied Quantum Mechanical Mathematics, Generalized Human History, and an in-depth understanding of both Natural and Political Sciences. He was one of the most genuine renaissance men of his times, and was also strikingly handsome … Anyway along with him was a fellow by the name of Bruce Witherspoon. Who had also hailed from Neptune’s Liverpool docks of the second level stations - also of the Moon Eta-U2. Although he had grown up on Oberon, Neptune’s furthest Moon, he had spent the majority of his educational years learning in the Liverpool Social School Systems of Eta. Mister Witherspoon had shown from an early age to have great promise for becoming a Master Slipstream-Ship Design and Builder. He had studied for eight years - between the ages of fourteen and twenty one - as a Junior Navigational Officer in the Royal Aeronautical Reserves (a very rare feat for someone younger than thirty-eight in those days).

Elizabeth Jean Edmond paused once more from her reading to look up at her students and added with a smile. When their attention for her turned with wonderment, at her interruption … not bad for a twenty one year old graduate from the Royal Aeronautical Academy, don’t you think?

After taking in their youthful faces for a moment longer, their instructor bent down once more to read; Along with these there was also a youth by the name of Xavior Sander, born in Watford England of Earth. He grew up near a Port City of Jupiter Seven. He had spent his life honing his skills as an Expert Asteroid Hunter, and Tracker. He also majored in the Sciences of Mineralogy, Applied Quantum Mechanical Mathematics and Thermal-Phototronics at the University of New Cairo Jupiter Twelve. Before applying to the University of Oxford’s Astronomical University, to continue his education, at the age of eighteen.

Muhammad Azuire was from Turkey of Earth. He was the great, great, great, great … some twelve or sixteen generations removed grandson of a nobleman. Who had died in Jerusalem during the third wave of crusaders, who had attempted to reclaim that land for Christendom. Muhammad had pursued an education in Greece, and had become a world-renowned Chemist and Pharmacist at the tender age of seventeen. He had also mastered all of the schooling which were available to him in the studies of Mathematics and Compound Chemical Theories where he lived … Again the teacher looked up from her Library pad to address the class as an entirety with her comment, and said, indeed, all of these student hopefuls were masters in the studies of Mathematics, and Scholars in their own rights to their chosen fields of study. They would all soon set out to have their skills and knowledge tested. They were bound with a deep desire to make changes in the path of history … remember, the date of their application into Oxford, was thirty fifty three …

CHAPTER 2

BEFORE THE DAWN

Student life is never easy, not even for those who seem to excel with little visible effort seen by those around them. In truth, those who excel to the highest levels of education, only do so by hard, laborious hours of mind stressing work, tearful worrying over long hours of deep concentration, sweat and mental gymnastics. After months of lectures, copious note taking and endless hours of reading which lead to continuous pages of test taking. Fills the days of student life at any level of learning, but all the more so for those who challenge the elite levels of education in the spheres of higher learning. So to, those who would master the world of knowledge and challenge the reasoning of previous generations. Goes the difficult task of learning the understandings of those who had gone before them, and to formulate rational conclusions. Which leads one to yet more questions, which are then offered to those who will follow. Thus, it was for our nine students, who, only by the sheer strength of their will, and the providence of reason, hard work, and the grace of God given talent. Had they each persevered during the long hours of study. Nevertheless, with their perseverance, and hard work, came the reaping of rewards. In their case, it was the ultimate winnings that they received for their labor. A summer of adventure aboard an actual warship. She was the very pride of the Alliance of Interplanetary Societies (AIS) of Sol-system One … at leastwise as far as these nine were concerned. In all actuality, she was a tired old composite constructed set of metal hulls that had been a minor warship, retired by the AIS decades earlier. She had long since been refitted to serve as little more than a training vessel for the schooling of midshipmen and junior apprentice cadets before they could be allowed to venture forth into the real Fleet. She was, … Elizabeth Jean Edmond continued in her discourse, … a sort of boot camp’ training ship. The vessel, the Wind Wash, could actually be operated by as few as a dozen and a half crewmembers. It had been left to sport only rather light armaments, consisting of two Tight-Beamed Long Range Bolt Cannons. Twelve small Deck Medium Range Energy Cannons, as well as six Particle Shot Revolving-Barrel Tubes, and in her one hanger deck. She housed a squadron set of twelve trainer fighters that were armed with two Broad-Wave ‘Squirrel’ Atom-Disturbers, and could be fitted with only three, Point to Point Projectile Releases each … "

Her tall gray and black hulls seemed to loom ever broader, ever darker, like some huge sleeping leviathan of deep space. As the shuttlecraft moved closer toward the end of the dock where the Wind Wash lay moored. The bulk of her darkened shape blocked out the stars beyond. Thus giving her all the more appearance of some type of sleeping leviathan just waiting to be woken. So that she might venture out to find pray once more. Out standing among the otherwise rather blandly drab shapes and colors of this distance quiescent giant. The small frigate did sport an unusual appearing oddity unlike anything Bruce had ever seen upon such a vessel. There, on the flattened lower bow plates, she sported a large, dully painted wooden bust of a woman! At first sight of her, he could barely believe his eyes that she even existed. Thought she most certainly did, poised brazenly like a flaunting floozies of some sea going vessel, decorating the ship’s forward bow. The ornate structure looked to have long flowing red hair that was plastered and intertwined itself into the structure of her bow. Then extending below it, the woman became a lengthy curling aquatic creature of bluish-green scaled embodiment. That graced the parts of her under-side, drawing the rest of her configuration into the very bow itself. The primary deck sported three tall thick masts like structures that towered high over her upper levels. Which became ever more detailed superstructures only as the smaller craft drew closer with each passing moment. Looking through the forward view-port with great anticipation and interest. The young cadet piloted the shuttle while noting with oddity that her hulls appeared to also be ornamented with what could pass as fine hard English oak. It had a deep, dark, almost red looking walnut railing which also became more apparent as his small craft veered closer still. Magnifying the screen’s visual, he took note. That there also seemed to be highly polished brass trimmings that were embedded like diamonds in her gun doors and decorated the hinges of the gangway holdings and hatches. And yet, at the same time, these strangely appearing colors seemed to only flatten the appearance of the ship. Rather than highlight or make its construction more apparently contoured.

Slowing the small craft down to an almost reverent speed of a prayer it crest over the large metal skeletal contraption that formed the holding dock. Bruce Witherspoon paused at the foot of her boarding dock, before docking with the much larger ship. As the starboard hatch decompressed and then opened. The young midshipmen glanced back towards the ship’s union jack that was visible through the small energy window overlooking the ship’s fantail. Stepping up through the gangway, he moved purposefully along the access that would lead him to the quarterdeck. He again paused at its head. The young cadet saluted the flag at her aft and then the officer who had been there to greet those boarding. Standing tall, erect, with a sharp salute, and a loud voice he states: Midshipmen Bruce Thomas Witherspoon, Reporting Aboard Sir!

Looking doubtful at the youthful face of the man clad in a tan blouse and gray trouser uniform. The officer asked with a staunch, almost angry sound in his voice, Have you now, … you have orders then, do you not?

Aye Sir, the youth returned, pulling a small square tab from his breast pocket, and handed it off to the man questioning him. Taking the offered tab, the officer slipped it into a small cube he held in his left hand. He skimmed over what was written there quickly then ejected it and handed it back. Without the slightest indication of what he thought about its contents. Welcome aboard the Wind Wash’ Master Witherspoon. The slightly older looking Ensign said at last, calling over a Boatswain-Mate with a wave of his hand, as he spoke. Simons, please lead this new arrival down to his birthing. The receiving officer asked without change in his tone of voice. Then he turned his attention back to watch over the docking port as the small shuttle that had carried Bruce to the Wind Wash. Moved away automatically and began its decent back toward the Spaceport of Tranquility Two.

Swinging his carry-sack up and over his right shoulder again. Bruce followed the man who looked to be possibly twice his own age. He led the way as they followed a zigzagged pattern toward the after portion of the ship. They had swung down a descending ladder near the after most portion of her main deck. Excitement rose high in his chest as he glanced into the darker bowls of the hold the sailor had just descended into before him. He pushed his thoughts aside, as he stepped over the lip of the hatchway, and set his foot firmly on the ladder below. The passageway was much darker than the brightly lit deck he had just left. Bruce pushed himself to keep up with the wayfarer’s silhouette that moved down the passageway ahead of him. After a few moments, Bruce found him self walking on into another larger gallery area and focused toward the forward part of the main gun-deck. Taking note of the webbed hammock like slings that swung empty