Combat Zone: Chapter One

'Why.....why do I have to be the one stuck on this Irk forsaken planet?'

Kel rubbed the back of her head as she walked through the Irken camp, glaring at the new trainees as they disembarked from the Irken transport ship. She was the top fighter pilot, top close combat expert, and one of the top marksmen in her class. So why the hell was she given the task of getting noob flyers ready for combat?! Not only that, but the tech she was partnered with was a cowering little wimp. Always stumbling into things, always jumpy, and never looked her in the eye. Kel didn't care how smart the kid was supposed to be, it pissed her off that she had to deal with him. Not to mention the fact that the trainees were always giving her headaches.

Kel went over to her ship, checking over the outer shell to make sure it was in perfect condition. However, before she could finish her inspection, a loud outburst arose from the trainees. Kel spun around and saw two of the boys in an all-out brawl. She rolled her eyes and stalked towards them. Coming up from behind, she grabbed the two by their antennae and pulled them apart. The other cadets looked on in fear as their instructor pulled the two fighters with her to the middle of the assembly center. She let them go and towered over them.

"LISTEN UP AND FALL IN!" she yelled as she watched the cadets scamper to obey. 'Okay, maybe this was why you said yes to the job' Kel thought smugly.

"This is NOT the way to get into a good fighter division. All the top divisions look for Irkens who show honor and dedication! If you think what these two were doing fits that description, then you can get right back on that transport and get your sorry asses back to Irk!" Kel stood stalk still as the trainees looked at her. Slowly, very slowly, three of the Irkens in the group and one of the two who had been fighting made their way back to the ship. Kel sighed as the door closed and the ship began its assent.

"Okay, now that round one of the rookies are gone, the rest of you have three weeks to decide if you have what it takes to be a top pilot. In the mean time, I have a few rules that you will learn if you plan on making it through this training program. One, you will address me as Commander Kel. Two, my word is LAW. And three, while you are here, you will be paired with a tech trainee. You WILL get to know and get along with your tech. A pilot without a good tech, who they TRUST, is a dead pilot. Okay, you'll have the rest of the day and tomorrow to learn the camp layout. And remember to read up on the local carnivores. This place has some nasty little monsters." Kel finished and turned briskly, returning her ship.

She started her review where she had left off, at the belly of the ship. Slowly she worked her way down to the fuel tanks, and stopped when she saw the lines. Kel pondered this, stepping back.

"MYK!!!" she yelled over her shoulder. There was a sudden yelp and a loud crash from behind one of the other ships. 'Great, what did he break now?' thought Kel as she rolled her eyes.

Kel looked back to where the noise originated and sighed when she saw a violet eye poking out behind a stack of boxes.
"Myk! Get over here." she said as she turned to look at her tech. Myk took a small step out from behind the crates, but didn't venture any further. Kel sighed again and took a deep breath.

"Myk? Can you come here please? Its important."

Myk edged over slowly. He looked at the ship, than glanced at Kel. "Y-yes?" he whispered.

Kel pointed to a line that was dripping a green liquid. "Myk, that's the main fuel line. What happens if it leaks like this?"

"It c-could um... explode." Myk stammered.

Kel nodded. "I thought I told you to check every part of the ship. If this had been missed, this could have caused a massive explosion that could take out this whole base."

“I.... I apologize.."

Kel looked at Myk and heaved a breath of air.

"Look, its okay Myk. Just... just make sure it gets fixed in time for the flight demonstration." Kel said as she put a hand on Myk's shoulder. Myk nodded and Kel shot him a grin. Kel turned and left the hanger, making her way to her cabin. But before she could get there, a noise in the jungle made her antennae twitch. Kel glanced toward the source of the noise. Two huge, rat-like creatures were working at the walls of the trainee barracks.

'Shit!' she thought as she backed away from the creatures.

Kel crept back to the hanger and made her way over to Myk quietly. She touched his shoulder, causing the tech to jerk violently. Kel quickly placed her hand over his mouth, to keep him from screaming. Suddenly, shrieks rose from the barracks. Myk looked back at Kel, and she held a finger to her lips.

"Quiet." she whispered.

'Yeah, this is why I hate this planet'