Back in 2000, I was one of a large number of fans who fell in love with the computer game Homeworld. What truly sold the game for me was its effective use of storytelling in crafting an epic science fiction tale the likes of which I’d not seen in a couple decades. It inspired me to write what were called the “Fleet Intelligence Personal Logs” where I reported on my own adventures in the game, from the viewpoint of the head of Fleet Intelligence, one of the two “voices” players heard while playing the game.

What you see below is a revision of those old stories, expanded to have more story while remaining true to the log-style format of the original stories. I’ll be posting the story in segments, and plan on posting these segments on a weekly basis.

Fleet Intelligence Personal Logs

by Robert A. Howard

Prologue: Departure

Fleet Intelligence Personal Log

I suppose I should be writing something pithy and memorable at the start of this log. Something about this being the end of an age, and the start of a new age, or something like that. But oddly enough, all I can think about is what I’m leaving behind. Of my mother and father, who encouraged me despite the risks involved… of Kaali, the woman I love, and who is remaining behind on Kharak. Kharak herself is in my thoughts, even as my shuttle floats above the planet, looking down at the sun-burnt red world below us.

I’d often joked that one day I’d leave, and never look back. But now, floating above the place of my birth, I feel a sense of loss. It’s just homesickness. It’s silly when you really think of it. I’ve wanted this for my whole life. I grew up watching the Mothership grow, knowing, knowing that one day, I would be on that ship, seeking out our Homeworld. Besides, it’s not like I won’t be able to return.

The sky outside the viewport has darkened, though only remote spots of light greet us out here. They’re distant galaxies for the most part, and a smattering of old tired stars, much like Kharak’s star, out on the edge of the galaxy. The journey to the galactic center is expected to take months… I can see the Scaffolding and the Mothership at the edge of Kharak’s horizon.

I don’t think I’ve seen a more beautiful thing than the Mothership as we approach. It’s the work of several generations, and will take over 600,000 Kharakians on a grand journey to find our origins. Truly this moment is even greater than when Anthrocist Mevath Sagald recovered the Guidestone with the galactic map from the Ancient City of Khar-Toba, which revealed that we came from the stars… and how to return to our ancient Homeworld, Hiigara.

Some of the smaller kiithid claim that the Mothership project is a waste of time and resources. They feel we should have spent this effort to improve Kharak itself and work to stop the encroaching deserts, or even bring more water to our barren world. I disagree with those sentiments. Though I suppose that’s obvious, seeing I’m above Kharak on an approach vector to the Mothership. Don’t get me wrong. I sympathize with their position and do feel we should save Kharak. But our quest to find Hiigara… a number of sociologists state that the Mothership project, and the quest to find Hiigara has united most of our people in a common cause.

Most, but not all. One of the greatest tragedies that has befallen this new age was when one of the great Kiiths, Gaalsien, allowed their religious beliefs blind themselves to the truth. They doomed their greatest city, Saju-ka, by destroying the sand baffles that kept the Great Desert at bay. In a matter of days the Great Desert poured in and buried it forever. The Gaalsien claim that our arrogance, in reaching for the stars, would bring about our doom. They claim they sacrificed Saja-ka to placate the Gods. But they doomed only themselves. They are anathema now, and have vanished into the desert.

It is a lesson, but not the one the Gaalsien intended to teach. Gaalsien have been losing power and influence for decades, even before kiith Nabaal came out of their self-imposed exile and brought Kharak into the Age of Reason. They constantly looked back even when they were among the most powerful kiith of Kharak, and dreamed of that past, instead of looking forward and embracing the future. If we followed Gaalsien’s example, we’d be as doomed as they are. Fortunately, other than a handful of fanatics, the kiith are united behind the Mothership and finding Hiigara.

The shuttle is circling the Scaffolding now, and the Mothership. My grandfather told me of the first images satellites showed of Kharak; it was a crescent of light floating in the vast darkness of space. In that memory, the Mothership is likewise shaped as a partial crescent. Her colors are blue and red; blue for the color of water and of life, and red for the blood that was shed in our long quest to this point.

The viewports have dozens of last-second crew plastered to them, watching the Mothership as we approach. I’m fortunate enough to have a seat next to a viewport, even if several crewmembers are clustered around it. I’ve one person leaning over my lap even as I type, a young lady: Lieutenant Jaana Somtaaw, who’s assigned to the future Corvette wing. I actually requested for her to be transferred to the Mothership upon seeing her innovative navigation of sand shoals during the sandskimmer trials.

I’m not sure why we still have those damn sandskimmer trials. Oh, the Commodore of the Academy claims it helps build teamwork and innovative thinking, but he was furious at Lt. Somtaaw’s navigating the shoals after a competitor forced her sandskimmer to lose its lead. I was forced to take on his favorite as well, but the lad’s got top marks, and even if I find him an arrogant ass, it’s not like I’ll be directly working with him.

Light is pouring in from all the viewports. We’re on final approach to the docking bay of the Mothership. The light is intense… and beautiful. It drowns out the pale stars beyond, though Kharak is still visible, red with swirls of white along the poles. Kharak may not be the birth world of our people, but it has been the forge that strengthened us and made us what we are. We should never forget this place, even long after we return to Hiigara. And to be honest, I think many will want to stay on Kharak.

We’ve docked. I’ll get back to this after I reach Fleet Intelligence.

* * * * *

I’ve a few minutes before the meeting, so I decided to update my journal. I suspect when we get underway I might not have many opportunities to do so. Fortunately, I’ve an excellent memory and will have access to the sensor data. I doubt I’ll leave out many details.

I must admit I’m a bit nervous. My position as head of Fleet Intelligence on the Mothership may be met with some dissatisfaction; I am the youngest Colonel in Fleet Intelligence and have not served in space before. Back on Kharak I heard several of my elders complaining that I lack sufficient experience for this post.

Personally, I agree. I would prefer it if an Elder was on the Mothership as well. Unfortunately none of my superiors were able to pass the rigorous physical and mental exams required for this maiden journey of the Mothership; none who volunteered, anyway. But that doesn’t stop them from complaining from the comfort of their armchairs that I should have experience in the Fleet first.

Fleet. As if it can be called that. Kharak’s fleet consists of a dozen older-generation corvettes, two heavy tugs that are left over from when we dragged resources to Kharak to assist in building the Mothership, our first true frigate-class vessel, the Sandstrike (expected to leave the LiirHra shipyards in a week; the engineers are putting the finishing touches on armor around the engines), and a couple dozen older fighter craft, precursors to the current Scout-class fighter and the Blade Mk.4 Interceptor. The Home Defense Fleet will not be accompanying the Mothership. They would be unable to in any event, as none of the vessels possess hyperdrives.

The Mothership is ready to begin final tests, so I can easily gain any needed experience while integrating with current and new members of Fleet Intelligence for the Mothership. As many in Fleet Intelligence are new to their posts, I’ll be less of an outsider now than if I arrive after the test flights are complete.

I’m more worried about Karan S’jet than my own inexperience. She invented the technology that hardwires her to the Mothership. No one truly knows what this will do to her. I’ve read several reports that state she’s showing signs of being distanced from her emotions. All of her stimuli comes from ship sensors and reports, rather than her own eyes and ears (though considering she’s floating in a vat of oxygenated fluid shielded from vibrations, there’s nothing for her to see or hear in any event).

It must be strange, seeing stars and Kharak from video cameras rather than your own eyes. Undoubtedly it loses something in translation. And her only physical contact with the outside world comes from periodic visits from medical staff to ensure her body isn’t deteriorating. I’ll have to recommend that visits should increase so to remind Karan that she is still Kharakian.

There is another reason I’m concerned about Karan S’jet. If anything were to happen to her, I’m next in line to be linked to the Mothership. While there is an emergency system in place that doesn’t require surgery, it is not nearly as efficient and primarily meant for tactical situations. Karan controls the shipyards, dry-dock, weapon systems (though that currently consists of a dozen point-defense weapons; added weapons are planned once the initial trials are complete), sensors, life support, and much more. I do not envy Karan S’jet one bit, and am going to fight to ensure she keeps her sanity, if for my own sake.

Fleet Intelligence and Fleet Command will be working together closely. We in Fleet Intelligence will provide Karan with advice she needs to make decisions; she’s a scientist, not a tactician or a xeno-sociologist. If we encounter hostile aliens, we will be responsible for tactical systems and the fleet, while Karan transmits commands. We are the ones who’ll study enemies for patterns we can exploit, and hopefully find weaknesses. And while Fleet Command controls the Exodus Fleet (consisting at this point of seven Scout-class fighters and one fusion-torch mining vessel), Karan’s lack of military knowledge is a detriment. Fortunately, she’s brilliant and learns quickly. And we may be fortunate enough not to encounter any hostiles.

I better put this away, the meeting is about to begin.

(To be continued)