{"id":1508,"date":"2016-06-12T07:21:13","date_gmt":"2016-06-12T12:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1508"},"modified":"2016-06-15T16:06:35","modified_gmt":"2016-06-15T21:06:35","slug":"buck-rogers-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=1508","title":{"rendered":"Buck Rogers – Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 5<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome back, we\u2019re with Captain William Roger, the latest sensation from the past,\u201d the woman said turning to Buck. \u201cSo, what\u2019s is like going into the future?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks for having me here,\u201d Buck said. \u201cI\u2019m fine with Buck, it\u2019s what everyone called me.\u00a0 As for going to the future, it takes some getting used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the one thing that surprises you the most so far?\u201d the man asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow tall the buildings are,\u201d Buck replied still unsure about it all, but the view he had this morning getting up and enjoying breakfast was very nice. \u201cI grew up with urban sprawl, not tall half a mile high buildings which housed almost everyone in the city, and how you can live entirely in the building.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid people of your time really deny climate change?\u201d the other woman asked quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, well, I think many never denied it, that was a misnomer, I mean the climate is always changing, I know I questioned the data and theories because I wanted the right information put out, not some half-baked theory like so many things,\u201d Buck said shifting a bit uncomfortably in his seat. \u201cBut a lot of people believed in it, and it looks like we finally are, at last, living in peace with nature.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been historically factual that your era was one of the most wasteful, do you agree?\u201d the woman asked again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea, it\u2019s possible, but I don\u2019t know all of human history either,\u201d Buck replied, starting to feel like his entire life was being judged based on what someone learned in history.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what\u2019s it like being the first person in history to survive a test flight of a Thu\u2019lue FTL drive,\u201d the man asked changing the subject much to Buck\u2019s relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t remember much of the flight, for me it all happened in less than an hour,\u201d Buck said. \u201cI was busy working, and there was a power surge which I was working on and then tried to abort, that might have been what stopped the drive from continuing on forever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the fact you ended up in the Rizonian Empire,\u201d the other woman said. \u201cIt must have been dreadful.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I had little experience with aliens, especially considering it was my first encounter with an alien,\u201d Buck replied back to them. \u201cI had no idea what to do, and they were telling me to surrender, I\u2019m glad they didn\u2019t say prepare to be boarded,\u201d he chuckled at that.\u00a0 \u201cThere was no place for them to board, it was a one man craft.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would have been interesting,\u201d the man said. \u201cWe know they are not known for their manners either, were you treated all right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI have nothing to compare it to, but they were a bit rude, they barely spoke so I had no idea what was going on, was even more surprised when some humans showed up to talk to them and I was accused of being a spy,\u201d Buck replied honestly. \u201cI tried to stay quiet and not say or do anything which they might take as offensive and kill me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI bet it was a shock to see humans, especially considering what you were expecting,\u201d the other woman said. \u201cI\u2019ve heard some from your time might freak out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, they probably would, a lot of people thought aliens were some fabrication of people\u2019s imaginations, and could not possibly be visiting Earth, and many of them were top scientists of the day,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHard to imagine,\u201d the man said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave you had time to explore the city?\u201d the first woman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot really, went to bed early last night, had a long day, and then woke up early this morning, I\u2019m glad you still have coffee,\u201d Buck said, as they all chuckled at that.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome things are worth keeping,\u201d the man said. \u201cI wish you well in whatever path you take.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Buck said as the producer counted down.<\/p>\n

\u201cUp next, the Draconian Ambassador stops by to inform us why she is here,\u201d he said to the camera.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd we\u2019re clear,\u201d the producer said walking up to them.<\/p>\n

Buck was moved off the set and headed towards the spot where Wilma was waiting for him. He paused as another person approached.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re the one who disrupted the Rizonians so much,\u201d a woman said to him looking him over for a few seconds. Buck noticed she had black hair and a nice figure.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess, didn\u2019t know I was even doing anything,\u201d Buck said unsure what to say next as Wilma approached.<\/p>\n

\u201cBuck, this is the ambassador from the Draconian Empire, Princess Ardala,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, didn\u2019t know you\u2019d look, well, so human,\u201d Buck said to her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are many things you don\u2019t know Captain Rogers,\u201d Ardala said, moving slightly closer to Buck. \u201cAnd you have quite the physique for an Earthling.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t you have to get ready, the commercial isn\u2019t going to last that long,\u201d Wilma said looking at the set where people were waiting.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re always a downer colonel, loosen up, you might get a man, or woman if you wish,\u201d Ardala said brushing by Buck before heading off to the set leaving them alone again.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Draconian Empire is human?\u201d Buck asked as he headed to remove the make-up which had been put on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a complex issue, and technically they are human, but different,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cI don\u2019t know all the history.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, perhaps you can tell me what you know,\u201d Buck said, washing his face, wiping dry and looking over at Wilma who seemed to be considering it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, we\u2019ll grab something to eat before you\u2019re next public appearance,\u201d Wilma said headed out of the office and towards the transportation floor.<\/p>\n

Buck followed wondering if he would ever get the story on what the deal was with the Draconian Empire and why there were humans in it. His imagination went wild, another war, a group of humans who separated from Earth years ago, a rebellious colony?\u00a0 Everything seemed likely.<\/p>\n

Settling into a transport he looked back over at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Draconian Empire is ruled by the Draconia family,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like Dracula, some sort of Prince Vlad thing going on?\u201d Buck said trying to inject humor.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure about this Dracula?\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know who Dracula is? So much history has been lost,\u201d Buck said with a sigh.\u00a0 \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey rose to prominence in the early twenty-fourth century after the last of the world wars,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cThey went out and said space was for Earth to conqueror, and proceeded to do so with a loyal following.\u00a0 Before Earth and an alliance could be formed they had conquered a small empire, ruling it as a dictator and denounced all relations with Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck gave that some thought wondering if they were still as bad as people thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey now have official relations with us, but we\u2019re still wary of them, they act unpredictable at the best of times,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cWe\u2019ve had several wars against them, the last one occurred only twenty years ago, we beat them back but each time they come back stronger.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds like they are learning and you\u2019re not,\u201d Buck said logically watching as Wilma seemed offended by the thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are highly advanced,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, but if you limit your military actions and tie them down with useless rules of engagement against an enemy who had no rules, you\u2019re fighting with one hand behind your back,\u201d Buck said, recalling his own history he had learned, a professor said the same thing about several wars in the latter part of the twentieth century.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we try to maintain peaceful relations, not war with our neighbors,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

Buck said nothing but had a feeling it was that very appearance which gave the Draconian Empire the illusion the Earth Alliance was ready to be invaded, and if Earth was fractured, once the more advanced nations were defeated the rests would fall. It seemed like a very logical solution to him, and he wondered if the logical advice of the robots like Doctor Theopolis took that into consideration, after all, it was illogical thinking, or was it illogical human thinking?<\/p>\n

For now he would look into himself and figure out what happened.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Buck looked around taking it all in and beside him Wilma chuckled at his actions.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaven\u2019t seen you this excited, ever,\u201d Wilma said to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve been reading up on your fighters, they look and sound wonderful, to actually see one up close, and they can travel long distances, power supply for twenty-four hours, it\u2019s an amazing piece of technology,\u201d Buck said talking about the Thunderfighter, the most advanced fighter Earth ever designed or built.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are proud of it,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cWe have ten squadrons operational at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Draconians would need a large force to challenge that,\u201d Buck said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, which is why we maintain constant patrols of their boarder with us,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

Buck had done some research on the subject, the two groups had gone to war six separate times already and it appeared the problems between the two had never been resolved at all. Now he was at the military base outside the city, it housed one of the squadrons of Thunderfighters.\u00a0 Bases were scattered all over the continent to prevent one strike from crippling the defenses of the NAA, and he was being given a tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cColonel,\u201d a man said walking up to them.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Wilma said, turning to the man.<\/p>\n

\u201cWanted to let you know, here are the results of your fighter\u2019s tests,\u201d the man said handing her a tablet computer, she looked it over and did something before handing it back.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooks good,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Buck noticed the man glanced at him for several seconds before finally heading off, something he was slowly getting used to. People recognized him all over, some would want to talk, others just stared and still others, completely ignored him.<\/p>\n

He watched as a fighter rolled out of the hangar and into the sunlight towards the runway to head off on a patrol. He continued on with Wilma until they reached a Thunderfighter and she went around checking things out.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout to head out?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, just checking to make sure everything\u2019s ready in case I do need to head out,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cThough I do need to do some training,\u201d she looked over at him.\u00a0 \u201cWhat to help out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy not,\u201d Buck said, wondering what she had in mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on,\u201d she said, heading off to another part of the building. Buck noticed they passed several closed doors labeled one through six and wondered what they were for before reaching the one marked control.<\/p>\n

Wilma entered without even knocking and he followed.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, colonel,\u201d one of the men said looking at her and then Buck. \u201cWe weren\u2019t expecting you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I needed some practice, and, I think we can include the captain here,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck\u2019s eyebrows rose at the statement and he had a feeling it meant that she wanted him to be included.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, give him a quick rundown,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSure,\u201d he said, motioning for Buck to follow him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee you in the simulator,\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Buck said going with the man who led him back outside and down the hallways to a room labeled two. Entering it he had a feeling that it looked very much like the old simulators that he used for training in the air force and when he trained for the Enterprise.<\/p>\n

The guy quickly gave him a rundown on the controls, thrusters, and such including weapons before Buck strapped in having a feeling he knew what was going to happen. Handing him a helmet and strapping in buck gave him a thumbs up, which the guy shrugged on before heading back out after telling him good luck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Buck, let\u2019s see how much things have changed in four hundred years,\u201d he said to himself as the screen suddenly came to life.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady,\u201d he heard the same guy say who had helped him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs ready as I\u2019ll ever be,\u201d Buck replied, still trying to remember where everything was.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll do fine,\u201d he heard Wilma\u2019s voice say as the illumination of thrusters in front of him appeared.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we fighting each other?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, you\u2019re my wingmate, going against some drones,\u201d Wilma replied. \u201cYou mentioned you were a fighter pilot, let\u2019s see how good you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buck took the controls, testing out the feel of the fighter for several seconds while feeling the sensation of the movement of the fighter in the simulation. It took several tries before coming to an understanding what did what.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady?\u201d Wilma said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Buck said, still unsure but ready to do, treating it like a video game at the moment.<\/p>\n

His screens came to life, information displayed all over where ever he looked and took it to be some sort of information, like a HUD of the fighters of old. He noticed new spots, indicating incoming ships, under each dot was additional data, two different numbers.<\/p>\n

\u201cFour on two, not too bad,\u201d Wilma said. \u201cTry and keep up.\u201d<\/p>\n

End part 5<\/p>\n

Continued in part 6<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Buck Rogers \u00a0by AJ Marks Part 5 \u201cWelcome back, we\u2019re with Captain William Roger, the latest sensation from the past,\u201d the woman said turning to Buck. \u201cSo, what\u2019s is like going into the future?\u201d \u201cThanks for having me here,\u201d Buck said. \u201cI\u2019m fine with Buck, it\u2019s what everyone called me.\u00a0 As for going to the […]
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