[Novel Excerpt] Path to the Stars

I've been working on a new novel concept which mixes elements of space opera, military science fiction, romance and crime thriller. This is the first draft of the first chapter, written from the perspective of the main character Rei Matsumoto.

Comments and critique highly appreciated.

Path To The Stars

Chapter 1 – Rei

"You are required on the bridge lieutenant." Rei opened her eyes to the grey interior of her quarters, dim blue lights pulsing eerily above her.

"Status report Ohime." she said.

"Enemy volley was fired 8 hours ago, collision estimated in three hours. Lieutenant-commander Mori has the bridge and is manoeuvring the Nagato for a broadside battery." The computer said in a metallic voice. Rei sat up rubbing her eyes. Her room was spartan, devoid of life and colour. A simple steel table sat next to her bed with a half-empty glass of water and small golden pin in the shape of a cherry blossom.

"And the enemy fleet? What are their movements?"

"Battleship Hestia, Ares, and Apollo are moving into firing position, estimated time before they can fire; 16 hours. Battlecruiser Leviathan took a direct hit from Heavy Cruisers Takao and Mogami; no damage reported."

Rei stood up and stretched. There was no time to fix her hair or take a shower, they were in a battle after all. She picked up her rank pin and fastened it the collar of her black jumpsuit.

"Please tell the bridge I am on my way." she said, stepping out of her quarters. The bridge was located at the centre of the ship, underneath the reactor core. Rei's footsteps echoed down the grey corridor as she walked toward the officers elevator. The temperature was a comfortable 21 degrees. Ensigns and Midshipmen stood aside and bowed respectfully as she passed. Underneath her feet she felt the reactor core humming away contently. The elevator to the bridge was just ahead of her. She quickened her pace, hoping she wouldn't run into any other officers.

"Good morning ma'am."

Rei froze. Looking to her right she saw a young ensign leaning against the wall and trying to look cool.

"What is it ensign Ito?"

Her abrupt reply broke his composure.

"Well...uh... I was wondering if you would like to have lunch with me at 1800?"

Rei sighed. Ensign Ito had been pursuing her for a while, but he was just not her type. His slicked back black hair and boyish face just didn't do it for her, and the glasses – she hated how he fiddled with his glasses when he was nervous. That aside, he didn't know how to ask a woman to lunch. Rei was looking for a man that would grab her by the hand and say 'Let's have lunch.' or 'I'll be in the cafeteria at 1800, come see me.'. She was looking for a man who knew what he wanted and would take it without hesitation, this is what she looked for in a man, this is what she aspired to be, dominant, and audacious. A silence stretched out between them, she was a coward, she couldn't tell him to his face that she wasn't interested...

"I'm required on the bridge... um... I'll see you around."

A smile stretched across his face. Not wasting another moment Rei stepped into the elevator.

"Ohime, bridge."

The elevator's doors closed.

"Understood."

Rei looked up at the pulsing lights above her, they were dimmer than usual. All secondary systems were on power reserve while they were in battle. She longed for the usual golden light, the dim blue just depressed her. She wasn't looking forward to the bridge either, especially when lieutenant-commander Mori was in charge. The elevator's doors opened and she started forward, only to have her way barred by tall man. The holo terminal read 'Male Officers Quarters B-6'.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't lieutenant Matsumoto."

He pushed past Rei into the elevator, squeezing her into the corner.

"Ohime, bridge." He said.

While the elevators doors closed he placed his hand next to her head, leaning over her. She could smell him, orange and pepper, a strong smell. Rei looked down to the ground. Sub-Lieutenant Kondo was a lower rank than her, but she just couldn't face him.

"What do you want sub-Lieutenant?" She said.

He got closer, she could feel the heat of his body, his face was right next to her.

"You smell good Matsumoto."

Rei tried to pull away.

"I-I'm a superior officer." She said meekly.

The sub-lieutenant grabbed the back of her head roughly.

"Women don't belong in space, it's bad enough you enlisted, but becoming a Lieutenant and ordering around men..." he held her hair painfully. "Is unacceptable."

The elevator doors hissed open. Rei pushed him away. He stepped out of the elevator smoothing out his hair. She hated him, she hated him more than anything. She wiped her eyes, they had become moist. She felt like crying.

"Lieutenant Matsumoto reporting for duty." She said, her voice faltering for an instant. The bridge was made up of three levels, interconnected by walkways. In the centre of the bridge was a raised dais were the captain sat, next to it were two other chairs for the commander and lieutenant-commander. The captains chair turned towards her, in it sat lieutenant-commander Mori.

"Ahh you finally made it Matsumoto."

Rei bit her lip, he didn't address her by her rank.

"I called sub-lieutenant Kondo five minutes ago and yet you arrive at the same time. I hope you haven't forgotten that we are in the middle of a battle?"

She stood at ease, hands clasped tightly behind her back.

"Sub-lieutenant Kondo is in B-6, my quarters are —" Mori cut her off.

"Female officers quarters. Yes, I am well aware. So you think just because you have a pair of tits you can take your time coming to the bridge?"

Mori spoke so loudly that all three levels of the bridge could hear him. Some of the men laughed, the only two other women on the bridge only looked at her with pity. Mori always treated her like this, disrespecting her on the bridge, in the corridors, and in front of the lower ranks. An intense anger burned in Rei's stomach, she felt like she was about to snap. Holding herself together she spoke evenly.

"You called me to the bridge?"

A malicious smile spread across Mori's face, Kondo sniggered at his post.

"Yes I did. I have a very important task for you."

He leaned forward putting his hands together.

"I would like you to serve tea to the bridge."

The bridge roared in laughter. Rei's throat constricted, she felt angry, she felt like bursting into tears. She just stood there, like a single tree weathering the storm.

"Excuse me sir?" She said, voice shaking.

"You heard me lieutenant Matsumoto, don't make me repeat myself."

This time he emphasised her rank. Rei's nails dug painfully into her palm, she hoped the pain would stop her from snapping, from running forward and beating the seven hells out of Mori. She was about to open her mouth and say something regretful, when a booming voice rang out across the bridge.

"What are you doing in my chair lieutenant-commander."

The bridge became deathly quiet, Mori froze, panic in his eyes.

"I asked you a question lieutenant-commander."

Rei watched the captain walk past her and their eyes met for an instant, her heart jumped and she looked down quickly.

"Well?" the captain said.

Mori jumped from the chair and dropped to his knees, prostrating himself in front of the captain.

"I'm terribly sorry captain Kato, I forgot myself."

Rei felt a deep satisfaction watching Mori get what he deserves.

"So you think you are good enough to sit in the captains chair?"

Mori's forehead touched the ground and he kept still.

"I thought so."

He walked past the prostrated man and sat down in his chair.

"Lieutenant Matsumoto."

Rei looked up, eyes straight.

"Yes captain."

"Bring me some tea."

Rei brought her hand up in a salute.

"Yes captain."

She bowed low and turned, making her way to the elevator thinking, that is how a man asks for tea.

The cafeteria was bustling with people. There were two lines, one for officers and one for enlisted ranks. Rei estimated there were almost 500 people cramped into the hall, waiting to get breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The Nagato had three of these cafeterias, C-A, C-B, and C-C, spread across the ship to feed the 60,000 crew. To the left of the serving counters was a little door with a sign that read 'Strictly: Staff only'. It was a very limited privilage to access this door, only kitchen staff and command officers had this privilage, fortunately she knew someone in the kitchen who would turn a blind eye to her entry, especially if it was a request from the captain. With her head held high and a confident stride she walked towards the door.

"Hey you."

The cafeteria was noisy, she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination that someone was calling out to her. She reached for the handle of the door.

"Hey."

She felt a hand on her shoulder and whirled around to the angry face of a kitchen hand.

"What is it shipman?" she said. Shipmen was the lowest enlisted rank on the ship, and the penalty for laying a hand on an officer by an enlisted rank was severe.

"That door is for kitchen staff and command officers only." He put his hands on his hips, people started looking in their direction. Rei's face became flushed. She pointed to the golden pin on her collar. The kitchen hand leaned forward, looking closely at it.

"Hmm... that's ahhh..."

"Lieutenant, shipman." He looked up at the ceiling counting on his fingers.

"Midshipman, ensign, sub-lieutenant, lieutenant, lieutenant-commander, commander, captain..."

He held up seven fingers in triumph. "You are one rank from a commanding officer. Come back when you get promoted." He said matter of factly. Other kitchen staff were waiting behind the kitchen hand who was arguing with her, all wanting to get into the kitchen.

"Listen here shipman, I was sent by the captain for tea." She said more loudly then she wanted. The shipman pointed to the officers line.

"The captain is an officer isn't he, he can wait for his tea like everyone else."

Rei was dumbstruck, she wasn't sure if this shipman was stupid or just pulling her leg. She grabbed the white jumpsuit of the kitchen hand.

"Get the hell out of my way shipman or I will put you in the brig for insubordination."

The kitchen hand put up his hands.

"Hey now, no need to get violent. Rules are Rules."

Rei could see other kitchen staff looking at her angrily. She was making a scene, but she had no choice, it was the captains order. Behind her the kitchen door opened. She felt someone reach out and grab her arm, pulling her inside. A woman with black hair pulled her along the endless racks of cooking stoves and kitchen tops. The cooks didn't look up, they were too busy with their work to notice an officer passing through. Up ahead was a small door. The woman pulled her inside a little room, furnished with nothing more than a chair and a couch. Slamming the door closed the woman pinned Rei to the wall.

"So, you finally came to take up my offer?"

She pushed her face into Rei's hair, nibbling on the nape of her neck. Rei giggled and pushed her away.

"Stop it." she said laughing. "I can never tell when you are serious."

The woman looked into her eyes. Her almond shaped eyes were beautiful. Men scrambled to be with her, giving her gifts and sending her love letters. Rei knew her as Ship(wo)man Keiko Sasaki, the woman no man could have.

"I know you want to." Keiko said in a sultry voice, she ran her hands over the tight black jumpsuit caressing Rei's breasts.

"Sorry, I don't swing that way." Rei said, grabbing Keiko's arm and twisting it back. Rei had enlisted with Keiko, they had gone to the same high school.

"Mhhm... I like it rough."

Rei enjoyed visiting her friend, even though she was a bit strange. She was, afterfall, one of the only people she could really trust on the ship.

"I need your help." Rei said.

"Anything for you dear." Keiko squirmed in her grip and Rei released her.

"The captain asked for tea, can you please organise it for me."

Keiko straightened immediately when she heard the rank of captain. Turning around she raised a mock salute.

"Understood lieutenant, the captains tea will be prepared on the double. Please wait outside, I will bring it to you."

Rei smiled.

"Thanks."

Keiko rushed out the door and Rei walked back the way she had come.

Rei carried the tray onto the bridge. There was a single cup for the captain, with powdered green tea and a kettle. She walked past lieutenant-commander Mori who was still prostrated on the ground, and hadn't moved since she left. She presented the tray to the captain with a bow. Captain Kato took it without thanks.

"Return to your post lieutenant."

"Yes captain." she saluted smartly and walked to her command console, which was located just in front of the captain's dais.

"Lieutenant-commander Mori, give me a status report."

Mori mumbled something from the ground.

"Are you stupid lieutenant-commander, stand up before I demote you!" captain Kato's voice boomed across the bridge. Rei heard the lieutenant next to her snigger. She glanced back to see Mori looking at her, absolute murder in his eyes. She quickly turned her attention back to the command console, but continued listening, enjoying every bit of Mori's humilation.

"I know you got this post through family connections lieutenant-commander, but connections mean jack shit on a closed vessel, in space, in battle. Do you understand me!"

"Yes captain."

Rei didn't dare to turn around again.

"If I had my way I would promote someone useful to be lieutenant-commander... hmmm... like..."

Complex calculations and holographic projections flew across the command console, Rei was only half-listening to the captains conversation.

"Like lieutenant Matsumoto. She would be a damn sight more useful than you."

Her hand slipped and the algorithm on the screen returned an error. Rei couldn't believe what captain Kato had just said.

"Isn't that right lieutenant." the captain was speaking to her. If she agreed with him, Mori's bullying would get worse, if she disagreed... well, she would be demoted, nobody disagrees with the captain. Rei screwed her eyes tightly shut, gathering all her courage. A demotion was better than dealing with Mori.

"No captain."

The bridge went quiet, only the beeps from the consoles continued as they relayed critical reports. Rei could hear the captain standing up and walk up behind her, his boots echoing loudly.

"What did you say?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Explain yourself lieutenant."

She shrank back, shoulders drooping.

"I-I-I'm not worthy captain." her voice quivered.

The bridge was enveloped in utter silence. Nobody moved.

"You have to be careful lieutenant-commander Mori, not only is she smart, but she also has the guts to disagree with the captain of a ship. Those are the true qualities of a commanding officer. She might take your position someday."

She had made the situation even worse. She could feel it in the air, emanating from Mori, an aura of intense hatred.

"Regardless, give me that status report."

Captain Kato returned to his seat. Mori began giving a detailed report from the last 8 hours. Rei could feel the tense atmosphere, pushing her down, making it hard for her to breath. Lieutenant-commander Mori wouldn't let this go unpunished.

Rei hurried down the corridor toward her room. She half-expected Mori to be waiting outside the bridge, but was relieved when she didn't see him. He finished his shift 6 hours ago and was probably asleep. She almost broke into a run when she saw the holo-label 'Female Officers Quarters', all she wanted to do was curl up on her bed and hide. The door to her quarters hissed open. Her room was dark, darker than usual.

"Ohime, please brighten the lights."

There was no reply. It was not uncommon for the computer to malfunction. Reluctantly she turned to leave her quarters. She would have to see maintenance first.

"Don't move."

Someone was behind her. An arm reached around and she could feet cold steel brush against her throat.

"I'm going to make you pay bitch."

She recognized the voice, it was Mori, and his breath smelled of alcohol.

"I'm sorry." She said meekly.

Tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"Please don't hurt me."

A deep throaty laugh sent fear through her body.

"I'm going to do much worse... much, much worse. If you scream, if you resist – I'll kill you."

She didn't doubt for a second, that in his drunken state, he wouldn't pull through on his threats. He walked her to the bed, pulling the knife down, slowly cutting her jumpsuit across the chest. With his other hand, he fondled her breasts.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time." He said.

"Please..."

She started to sob, but Mori only started to breath faster. She could feel him pressing against her, his member becoming erect. He started moving the blade further down, slitting her jumpsuit in half. Rei closed her eyes, she couldn't believe what was happening. She wanted a man who took what he wanted, but not like this.

"Look at me." He said.

She turned around, but was met with blinding pain. He had struck her across the face.

"Stupid bit—"

Rei heard a thump. She could smell blood. She wanted to scream.

"Shhh."

It was a different voice.

"Who's there?" she said.

Someone embraced her. She tried to pull away, but the stranger held her tightly. Her hands ran across his face. He was wearing glasses.

"Shhh. You're safe now." He said in a gentle voice.