The BlackHawk Chronicles

WorldAnvil

2020-12-15T11:29:00.002-05:00

I am back to writing! But on a new venue.

Rather than continuing to use Blogger I have switched my attentions to WorldAnvil, where you can find worldbuilding and eventually stories.

My main efforts will be on my fantasy world of Fillimet but I do intend to eventually overhaul my characters from the longer unfinished novels here into Vazdimet. There are some fun post-apocalyptic style themes I would also love to explore someday, under Shadows of the Ancients.

Many thanks to all those who have read my writings here over the years. You keep me writing. <3

Scientific Stalker

2019-03-06T15:19:00.001-05:00

Nancy whistled as she hung up her lab coat and slipped out the door. Today had been a good day. In spite of the giant shakeup at the former capital she and her team had managed to develop a semi-decent cannon. "Not the best, but pretty good for what we had to work with," she grinned to herself, heading towards the front gate of the research facility.

She spotted some movement up ahead, a shadow crouched behind the day's equipment delivery, and frowned. Was someone trying to steal what meager resources they had left? She stepped closer, gingerly, squinting in the setting sunlight before relaxing with a sigh of relief. She trotted over to her coworker, startling him. "What are you doing lurking around the shipping docks?" she asked teasingly. "Trying to get a head start on tomorrow?"

Gerald looked up at Nancy nervously, motioning for her to take cover with him. "Is she still there?"

"Who?" Nancy asked, puzzled.

"My ex-girlfriend!" Gerald exclaimed in a raspy whisper. "Long hair, brown eyes, angry eyebrows?"

Nancy peered through a gap between boxes, curious. Sure enough, just outside the gate stood a young woman, impatiently pacing with frequent glances at the entryway. "That woman there?"

"She won't go away, and I don't know what to do," Gerald hissed between his teeth. "Last I heard she was off for 'bigger and better things' and next thing I know she is pacing outside my job and won't leave, no matter how many times the guards turn her away. I don't know what she wants from me, but it can't be good, and she never takes no for an answer."

"How long has she been there?" Nancy whispered, now curious.

"Over three months!" Gerald sobbed under his breath.

"And you haven't gone home...?" Nancy asked. This certainly explained some things. She figured his drop in job performance had been from the stress of recent events, but now... Well, that would also explain the higher usage of lab consumables, and the uneven stubble punctuated with dabs of plaster that Gerald had recently been sporting.

"How can I? She'll follow me everywhere I go. She's relentless!" Gerald paused, then looked up at Nancy with hope in his eyes. "Maybe you could talk to her?"

Nancy paused. Mostly she just wanted to go home, wash off the grease from today's successes, and relax with a cold drink and a hot pizza. But she'd have to pass this woman on the way out, and not talking to her would feel more awkward...

Finally Nancy nodded, and stood up to head out the gate. "Oh thank you!" Gerald called from his hiding place. "You have no idea how much this means to me!"

As Nancy approached the gate, the pacing woman stopped and turned to watch, staring her down with an intimidating glare. She held out a spall packet of paper, fastened in the corner, and shook it to ensure it caught Nancy's attention. "Hi! My name is Kelle Alexander and I am looking for a job! I have a great resume to show my basic understanding of all of the disciplines your lab encourages. When do I start? Where are you going?"

Nancy was already halfway back to the lab. She turned towards Gerald as she passed. "I think we are both staying in the lab tonight."

"What? Why?" Gerald looked up at her, puzzled.

"She's not here for you, Gerald!" Nancy called over her shoulder as she re-entered the building. "Worse! She's here for a job! That underqualified job stalker Anna warned us about."

Gerald blessed himself. "It's worse than I feared," he muttered under his breath before running inside after Nancy. "Wait for me!" he called as she disappeared into the building.

He could hear Kelle in the background, calling after him, brightly. "Gerald, you work here? Come here! Get me in! Give them my resume! You won't regret it!" Her voice and insistence faded to the background as the door closed behind him. Safe. For now.

But how long until she wore them down? How long before her siege succeeded?

Kelle Alexander at _Dreamcatcher_
Gender: Female Current Salary: 2,177 cr
Ingenuity: 2%
Agriculture: 1%
Mining: 2%
Processing: 1%
Production: 3%
Physics: 1%
Chemics: 2%
Medical: 0%
Weapons: 2%
Drives: 0%
Construction: 5%
Kelle Alexander
14:41:15 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:41:15 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:41:12 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:41:12 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:41:09 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:41:09 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:41:05 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:41:05 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:41:02 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:41:02 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:59 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:58 03-06-2019 EST I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:55 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:55 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:51 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:51 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:48 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:48 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:45 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:45 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:41 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:41 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:38 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:38 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:29 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:29 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:26 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:26 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:23 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:23 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:19 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:19 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:16 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:16 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:13 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:13 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:11 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:11 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:08 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:08 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:05 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:05 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:40:01 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:40:01 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:57 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:57 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:54 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:54 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:50 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:50 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:47 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:47 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:43 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:43 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:39 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:39 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:36 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:36 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:33 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:33 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:30 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:30 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:27 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:27 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:24 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:24 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:21 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:21 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:18 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:18 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:15 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:15 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:12 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:12 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:08 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:08 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:05 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:05 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:39:02 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:39:01 03-06-2019 EST I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:53 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:53 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:50 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:50 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:47 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:47 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:43 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:43 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:40 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:40 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:36 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:36 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:33 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:33 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:30 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:30 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:23 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:23 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:20 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:20 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:17 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:17 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:10 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:10 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:07 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:07 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:38:00 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:38:00 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:57 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:57 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:53 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:53 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:50 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:50 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:48 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:48 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:45 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:45 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:42 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:42 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:34 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:34 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:30 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:30 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:27 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:27 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:24 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:24 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:21 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:21 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:18 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:18 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:15 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:15 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:12 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:12 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:09 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:08 03-06-2019 EST I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:05 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:05 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:37:02 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:37:02 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:59 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:59 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:55 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:55 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:52 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:52 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:49 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:49 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:46 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:46 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:43 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:43 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:40 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:40 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:37 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:37 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:34 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:34 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:30 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:30 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:11 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:11 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:07 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:07 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:03 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:03 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:36:00 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:36:00 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:57 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:57 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:53 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:53 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:50 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:50 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:47 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:47 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:43 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:43 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:40 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:40 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:36 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:36 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:32 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:32 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:20 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:20 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:16 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:16 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:13 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:13 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:09 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:09 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:05 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:05 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:35:01 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:35:01 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:34:58 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:34:58 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by SolarCat.
14:30:57 03-06-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Dreamcatcher.
14:30:56 03-06-2019 EST I improved my skills in weapons while on sabbatical.
14:30:55 03-06-2019 EST I greatly improved my skills in ingenuity while on sabbatical.
14:30:55 03-06-2019 EST #2 I was dismissed by Brandon.
10:38:55 03-05-2019 EST I decided to offer my services at Secondus Capitalias.

(That's 100 times dismissed at returning to the same colony, in case you don't want to count. Close recruitment before dismissing, it's the only way they will go away.)

Hope Springs Eternal

2019-02-11T10:07:00.001-05:00

"Fabian? Sarah? Don't you have an Energy Shield you should be working on?" Clint questioned his gossiping subordinates, startling them.

"Sorry! It's just..." Sarah stuttered.

"Yes...?" Clint prompted. He had learned long ago it was best to let these two ask out their questions if he wanted the most productivity from them. They were good scientists, just a little easily distracted.

"We were wondering at his chances of getting the job," Fabian finished. "The newbie. Nick, I think he said?"

"Came strutting in here like he ready owned the place," Sarah piped up. "Bragging about howany places he had applied to work and how he got the first job he ever applied for but wanted somewhere more suitable to utilize his talents."

"But when I tried to talk technical with him, his eyes glossed over," Fabian added. "I don't think he actually worked a day in his whole life. I don't think he knows... Anything?"

"Not to be unkind!" Sarah quickly cut in. "Just... Something felt off about him is all. All that insufferable bravado..."

"That's for our interviewer to decide," Clint answered back evenly. "You'll know soon enough by whether or not he comes to work here tomorrow."

"True..." Sarah conceded.

"I just wish we knew what was going on in there," Fabian amended.

"When you are a manager you will know all about it," Clint answered with a smile. His scientists grimaced. Science and gossip were their passions, management positions their nightmares, and Clint loved using that to his advantage. "Now back to work, both of you. We have ships that need shielding, after all."

"Yes, sir!" the two grinned and hurried off to get back to work. Anything to avoid talking about management roles. Anything.

Clint shook his head with amusement as he watched them pass before turning around in time to see a young man walking dejectedly out of the office behind him. Looks like the new prospect didn't get the job after all.

"So many applicants, so little talent," the interviewer muttered to Clint through the bow open door. "You'd think they'd get the message."

Clint shrugged his shoulders. "Hope springs eternal and all that," he chuckled. "Someone will give him a chance someday. Just wrong place wrong time for him right now."

"You ever want my job, you let me know," the interviewer answered dryly. "I could use a mental vacation."

"Not on your life," Clint shook his head in reply. "Not on your life."

Nick Kawasaki
Today I was dismissed by SolarCat. Again.
14:29:18 02-08-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by HalfBee.
08:50:53 02-08-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by pick.
02:50:06 02-08-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by HalfBee.
02:49:57 02-08-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by HalfBee.
02:49:49 02-08-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by HalfBee.
02:44:41 02-08-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by HalfBee.
01:36:46 02-08-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by Barca.
21:30:14 02-07-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by SolarCat.
21:17:20 02-07-2019 EST #2I was dismissed by dorban.
12:43:50 02-05-2019 EST #2I was fired by IntelligenceEmbodied.
12:42:04 02-05-2019 ESTI was hired by IntelligenceEmbodied.

Decisions and Indecisions

2019-02-07T22:28:00.001-05:00

Milton looked down at the aptitude test once more before looking up at the interviewer. "I don't understand," he finally answered, confused. "You say that like it's a bad thing?"

"Simply put, we don't know where we would place you," he was told in reply. "You don't seem to know what you want to do, and you aren't particularly skilled at anything."

"I can learn!" Milton answered brightly. "I love to learn new things! Anything except-"

"Mining, I know, you keep repeating that," the interviewer sighed, rubbing his temples. "The problem is that you know a little about a lot of things but not a lot about anything. Your experience is non-existent, you are an encyclopedia of useless facts, and you never think for yourself when you can just find the answer written somewhere else. So tell me again why I should hire you?"

"I have a broad spectrum of interests, a willingness to learn, and you can put me on any team you want and I will learn all I can until I am the best at it. Anything except-"

"Mining," his interviewer finished tiredly. "Yes, we went over that already."

There was a long pause. Milton fidgeted, rocking slightly side to side in his chair in his effort to avoid pacing nervously across the plush green carpet of the office. He really wanted this job, didn't matter what they put him on. Heck, he didn't even remember the name of the colony, but it was his first job application ever and he didn't deal well with rejection. He wondered if maybe it would be okay to pace after all. Maybe he could stand up and say it was to stretch his legs? Or... There was a trash can in the corner, maybe he could throw something away, and get some pacing in that way? And when did that wall clock get so loud anyway?

He was about to start searching his pockets for a tissue to throw away when the silence was broken by a polite cough from the man across the desk from him. "Okay, Milton, we'll give you a shot at this. Report to the training lab, room 3C. You will be working with Sheila Burns who will be teaching you the intricacies of terraformers, and we will try to figure out your aptitudes from there."

Milton grinned excitedly. His first job! Terraformers! Those didn't have anything to do with mining, though, did they...? But he got the job! How exciting!

His thoughts were interrupted by an impatient snort. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

Milton jumped from his chair. "Sosorrysirthankyousomuchyouwon'tregretthis!" And with that, he was out the door and off to find his new research team. Or rather...

"No left! Go left! That's the broom closet!" the interviewer called from behind his desk, shaking his head. All these excited kids, so eager to research and no clue what they were getting into. But no matter. Some of them could become scientific superstars, given enough training. He just hoped they didn't burn anything else down in the meantime. The insurance was getting to be a bit pricey these days.

Milton Arrezola
Gender: Male
Current Salary: 2,292 cr
Ingenuity: 0%
Agriculture: 3%
Mining: 0%
Processing: 1%
Production: 4%
Physics: 4%
Chemics: 1%
Medical: 4%
Weapons: 5%
Drives: 4%
Construction: 2%

I's a Scientist

2019-02-06T17:54:00.001-05:00

"What are you looking at?" Jerome called out happily, addressing a serious-looking woman standing against the rough wooden fence, staring across the field and into the distance. She tried to silence him, but too late. They were noticed.

"Jerome! Lisa!" a figure in the distance called out excitedly, running towards them. "You're just in time to help me test my newest invention!"

Lisa sighed, muttering under her breath. "Now you've done it."

"Uh, hi Leroy," Jerome addressed the newcomer, mustering what enthusiasm he could. "What do you have there?"

"It's my latest and greatest invention!" Leroy announced, his chest puffing out proudly, brandishing a strange contraption made of PVC and random metal scraps, held together with duct tape and twine. "This is the one! My scientific breakthrough that will put me on the map!" He waved it over the fence at them with enthusiasm.

"Uh... What is it?" Lisa asked after a moment studying the hodgepodge of scraps.

"An Egg Launcher!" Leroy proclaimed. "Cheap ammunition, and biodegradable, too! Here, I'll show you!"

Before they could protest, Lisa and Jerome found themselves coated in a sticky mess of egg guts and shrapnel as the untested device exploded at the pull of the trigger. Leroy laughed nervously, wiping an egg yolk out of his eye. "It still has a few bugs left, but I'm sure this is it! My million credit idea! Where are you going? I've got lots more to show you! Just wait until you see my..."

Leroy's protests faded into the distance as Lisa and Jerome limped back to their lab to wash up and seek medical attention. Lisa glared at Jerome through the albumen. "This is all your fault, you know."

"Just thought the guy could use some encouragement is all," Jerome shrugged apologetically. "I didn't realize -"

Lisa cut him off. "You are the new guy. Maybe you should take our advice next time before you go encouraging anyone else about working with you in the lab?"

Jerome nodded his head emphatically before ducking into the lab's contamination shower. "Never again," he muttered, struggling to remove some yolk from his ear. "Never again."

Leroy Ajani
Gender: Male
Current Salary: 1,637 cr
Ingenuity:0%
Agriculture: 1%
Mining: 0%
Processing: 0%
Production:0%
Physics:0%
Chemics:0%
Medical:0%
Weapons:5%
Drives:0%
Construction:2%

Another Day in Paradise...

2018-09-20T07:42:00.001-05:00

Sarah looked up at the sky between bites of her sandwich. Not that there was much to see past the dome through the noxious mix of carbon dioxide and other thicker gasses that made up the atmosphere of her current home planet, but if she tilted her head and squinted her eyes just right..

There.

Another one, a brief blast of light, still faint through the haze of the atmosphere, but plainly visible, brighter than the foggy sunlight from their own star. The supernova of a capital ship succumbing to its wounds, the life support's carefully curated atmosphere igniting from the blast before dissipating into the unforgiving vacuum of space. So the battle was still raging, as it had been for days. How many ships? She didn't know.

Not that it mattered. Not yet, at least. The warning sirens reminded silent, signifying a battle raging far from the colony with no need to man their localized defenses.

She washed down the last of her sandwich with a swig of liquor, a bold vintage from the homeworld they had brought for a special occasion when volunteering to colonize this hostile world in hostile space as part of the war efforts. Wasn't exactly the sort of occasion she and her fellow colonists had envisioned when secretly stowing it away in their food stores, and drinking on the job was typically forbidden, but with water prioritized for usage in the war fleets, and the focus on battle preparations... Well, everyone had been too busy to ration out the remainder, so they had to make due.

Still, she knew what she was getting into when she volunteered for this. Or thought she knew. In truth reality was never equal to imagination, but there was good in that too. Aside from the weekly drills she hadn't needed to participate in any defense of the colony, not like the crew members of the ships in the battle raging above, almost invisible through the angry swirling atmosphere.

She raised her glass towards the dome, and the periodic bursts of light breaking through the gloomy sky. "Good luck out there." She stood from the bench to gather the remains of her lunch, stealing one last glance, looking up just in time to watch the sky light up with a brief but fierce display of light. "Someone just lost a lot of ships," she mused. "I guess we'll find out who soon enough." If today was the first time she put her training to use... Well, she was ready.

Bzzzzzzt! There went the alarm, lunch was over.

Returning to her post she was greeted with a loud bang, a large grin, and a very untamed beard. "Just in time, Frank!" she grinned back before rummaging through the new box of parts sitting on her workbench.

"That's m'job!" Frank returned, tipping an imaginary hat with a lopsided smile. "Gotta get these surveyors out the door, can't have too many eyes in the sky in times like these."

Sarah watched as her coworker drove away, off to deliver the next batch of parts needed to install the surveyor's engines further down the line. Yup, just another day on Crabsmash. Just another day in paradise.

Beloved

2015-05-06T19:36:00.002-05:00

Morning sun rising in light

Banishing the dark of night

So my soul rises each morn

Full of love, newly reborn

My life, my Love, beloved Dan

My thoughtful, loving, precious man

Brilliant mind, forever dreaming

Goofy grin, forever beaming

Blessing to my life forever

Smiling on every endeavor

Cherished days and loving ways

With him, eternal, my heart stays

Procrastination

2015-03-15T21:15:00.000-05:00

Sitting here, mind wandering
Away from tasks that must be done
I see my future freedom close
But restless thoughts will not obey

Procrastination is my curse
No focus here for me to find
Despite my hope to end my work
My concentration still does stray

Distractions I can still enjoy
Upon completion of this job
I want to finish soon, and yet
My mind does naught but run astray

And so I fail to understand
Why finishing must be so hard
This task needs to complete, and soon
Perhaps I'll manage it today?

Guiding Light

2015-03-13T17:23:00.000-05:00

A light cast through the darkness
A questioning for Truth
Glowing bright through storm and dark
A wakeful, eager sleuth

A brightness shines throughout my days
A gift from God above
A blessing of a life well lived
A sweet, unfailing Love

Troubles rage in storm-cast seas
Tests difficult to chart
Help shines down from tower above
Guiding the true of heart

Loving Truth and Trusting Love
Navigating glow
Holding firmly, rock foundations
Leading me to you

Seasons of Endings

2014-12-27T13:58:00.001-05:00

Summer sun, Winter sky
Seasons change, time passes by
Life and love, joy and pain
Washed away with Spring's soft rain

Life moves forward, time withstanding
Defying our understanding
Light and dark full intertwined
Leaving meaning undefined

Discerning eyes find shrouded truths
Answers without needing proofs
Meanings from the One above
Comforts wrapped within His love

Seasons change, life moves along
Colors change with Autumn's song
Winds of time, change underpinning
Each end gifts a new beginning

Diverse Opinions

2014-10-30T10:40:00.002-05:00

Here's my life, and that one's yours.
To each their own, you see.
Disagreements from yours roars,
No difference made to me.

You see, my friend, we're not the same.
We don't have to agree.
Diverged opinions are no shame,
Though not your cup of tea.

Our differences are who we are,
In varying degree.
We are each a superstar
With multiplicity.

What joy in life if all's the same?
If none e'er disagree?
If we're to make our problems tame,
Diversity is key.

You

2014-06-06T14:47:00.001-05:00

You are my anchor
And also my wings
Your arms are my refuge
Your ears, my confidant
Your smile, my sunshine
Your shoulder, my comfort
Your soul, my one true companion
Your heart, my home

Lover's Choice

2014-06-06T12:50:00.001-05:00

The truth in life and love I see
Resides within the heart
And my heart, My Beloved,
Lies within your outstretched hand
As you stand there, steadfast, stalwart, true
Staring deep within my soul
Holding out both hands towards me
Your heart in one, mine in the other
And I know which that I will choose
I will keep yours safe for you
And stand by you forever

Eternity

2014-05-23T22:58:00.001-05:00

Happiness is now complete
Comfort now cannot be beat
Love is blooming, soft and gentle
Nothing is coincidental

Peace has settled in at last
Soothing errors of the past
Everything is upward flowing
I really like where this is going

My life now is rainbows, roses
Happiness nothing opposes
I love him and he loves me
And this is how it's meant to be

Awake

2014-05-15T22:35:00.001-05:00

Unbowed, unbroken, standing tall
A fearful, certain, steady wall
Firmly planted, ne'er to fall
To tower high above them all

This is my faith and trust, unspoken
Firm and faithful, strength unbroken
An everlasting blessed token
Of renewed love, now awoken

This is love and love is truly
More a blessing than a duty
Orderly and yet unruly
Growing fast and spreading fully

This is how life's meant to be
This is what I'm meant to see
This is how I'm meant to live
And love as this, freely to give

Uncertainty

2014-05-15T22:25:00.001-05:00

Secrets, lies, and misdirection
Ever-changing course correction
Nothing is as it appears
Very few are what she fears

Threats and warnings sternly beckon
Challenges and costs to reckon
Chain of fear firmly unbroken
Offering no saving token

Truth is hidden from her sight
Lost among the fearful night
Terror standing angry guard
As she weeps, broken and scarred

Dawn will come into the fray
Boldly chasing death away
Yet will she last until that day?
Nothing certain, none can say

Truth's Arrow

2014-05-15T20:55:00.001-05:00

Notch the arrow, let it fly
Straight and true into the sky
Fall to earth, no more to roam
Revealing truth when it hits home

Part Release - Limerick

2013-09-03T11:02:00.001-05:00

Your humor will always prevail
To jump to the top of email
My stress is decreased
This part is released
Your drawing it will not derail

Eternal Hope

2013-08-26T23:42:00.001-05:00

Good friends, kind words
Hope eternal
Stories someday
Fill my journal

Hope is still
Roughly descending
Hopefully this
Struggle ending

Truth and lies
Entwined together
Hope and future
Dreams to sever

One step, two steps
Forward marching
Determination
Over-arching

Each day brings
A new beginning
Happiness will
Soon be winning

Blessing many
Needs are few
Doing what I
Need to do

Problems truly
Temporary
Even as my
Joy they bury

God is looking
Out for me
And someday soon
My Truth I'll see

Hope eternal
Fading never
Holds my dreams
And gifts Forever

Unconditional

2013-08-26T23:34:00.001-05:00

Love is cuddles, purrs and licks
Broken hearts to mend and fix

Depressed minds calmly distracted
Simple joys purely refracted

Paw prints left on hurting hearts
That is when the healing starts

Truth

2013-08-26T22:31:00.001-05:00

Truth is ever changing
Always hiding in plain sight
Always present as we question
What is wrong and what is right

There's a truth behind convictions
Set for everyone to see
And yet here I stand and wonder
What on Earth is true, to me?

I do the best I can each day
And daily muddle through
But with all the moral questions
Lately I don't know what's true

Bending truth to match the lie it seems
Is all he really knows
And I will do what I feel right
And hope intention shows

I must stand upon convictions
No more gaslights are believed
Only hoping truth will out
So that I can be relieved

Of this terrifying pressure
To recalibrate each day
Point my face into the sunrise
And I cannot lose my way

Guide my feet upon the proper path
And guide my words to Truth
I place my trust in you, Lord
Shelter me beneath Love's roof

Inner Strength

2013-08-26T19:33:00.001-05:00

Threats and insults slung my way
Striving thus to spoil my day

Power struggle most extreme
Striving to destroy my dream

I will hold my heart secure
I won't take the bait or lure

Police can resolve my fears
Strength is shining through my tears

I deserve a happy life
Full of peace rather than strife

And I will do what I need do
To ensure this hope comes true

Weekend

2013-07-30T14:57:00.002-05:00

Today is Tuesday
Tomorrow will be Wednesday
Come closer, weekend

Change Haiku

2013-07-30T14:56:00.002-05:00

Each day is a choice
And each choice will bring changes
A ripple effect

Boring Haiku

2013-07-30T14:18:00.002-05:00

Today is real long
And the hours tick by slowly
I want some ice cream