That Everlasting Glow

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. Dehaven Greenwood watched his crew check all of the items on the list from oxygen levels to the air conditioning in the space ship.

“I don’t think they have to check it every forty minutes,” Kilowa Kent remarked.

Greenwood indicated the digital list of commands.

“They must be done within a timely fashion, Miss Kent,” the lights of the ship glistened on his black skin. He rested for a moment.

“Sir,” said Todd Barron. “We’ve got contact—”

“Contact?!”

“Contact right, sir. But don’t worry. They’re about a lightyear away.”

“Still. We are equipped to deal with Earth invaders. These alien sources were not a part of the training.”

Barron continued. “We’re traveling close to their speed. We should have enough time to counter whatever weaponry they have.”

“Quickly, gather up the rest of the crew and have them meet up in the ready room.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

Once everyone was in place, Greenwood cleared his throat.

“We’re not under attack. At least not yet. We found two spacecraft on the perimeter. We are bracing ourselves with every weapon we have in our disposal. We must remain ever vigilant and focused on taking down this threat.”

The personnel aboard the Alyssa found their battlestations. Eager to enter battle, the crew all looked to their leader, Greenwood.

“Set the thrusters to level eight and launch the energy particles to see if they’ll counter any heatseekers. We’re already going close to a lightyear. Let’s see what they’re made of,” he commanded.

The alien ships soon encountered the Alyssa. They shot beams of light like a magnifying glass concentrating the sun’s radiation.

“Wait,” Greenwood announced. “Conserve energy. Everything off, even emergency pods. If you feel like screaming…don’t. I don’t want to hear a pin hitting the deck.”

As the ship idled, the alien presence slowed.

“Now!” The personnel turned on the lights and lasers, blinding and incinerating the enemy source. Greenwood ensured that his crew would not celebrate until they found themselves on the Dover Air Force Base soil in Delaware back on Earth.

“You see, no screaming,” he said.

“We’re not out of this yet, sir. A larger vessel has just appeared.”

“Good. The first one was just target practice. This should be intriguing,” Greenwood said.

With all of its technology, the Alyssa gave everything to defeat this opponent. Missiles, cluster bombs, lasers, and photon cannons all combined to produce a massive attack. Greenwood reached the alien ship’s comms.

“They say ‘shoot first, ask questions last.’ So I did. What do you have to say?”

Lights flashed and sparks and smoke arose from the opposite ship. The Alyssa translated the message. “You have won. We are defeated. This sector of space is yours.”

As the screen went blank, the only thing you could hear were the screams of the aliens perishing under the punishing might of Greenwood and crew. They all looked at each other. There seemed to be an eerie silence as the weapons bay replenished itself and the battlestations emptied. Everyone encircled Greenwood like he was a campfire. That everlasting glow remained in their leader’s mind.

“That wasn’t a training exercise. That was real. You all performed with intrepidity and coolness. I commend you. You may return to your normal operating stations. That is all.”

Greenwood held up a finger. “Just one more thing….” the crew stood at attention.

“At ease. Did anyone hear those shrieks from the enemy? I guess you can hear a scream in the vacuum of space,” Greenwood grinned. “Carry on.”

The Alyssa kept on its mission despite a shaky turn that could have claimed their souls. With Greenwood, he’d never let that happen.