Orbital by bill zhao copyright 2017 Bill Zhao Table of Contents act one (earth)

Symphony, Solar System
Derek followed the Vice Admiral out the door. They turned left and
faced a corridor of elevators. Yeylun pressed a button to their
immediate left and the doors opened instantly. Above the steel frame
was a sign, lettered in bold “Private” The fingerprint scanning button
was a nice touch. The two stepped inside and the doors closed. As soon
as they shut, the elevator whirred into motion. Sudden but smooth, and
fast. Very fast.
The doors opened without a sound within seconds and there they were.
At the bridge. They walked out and turned right. There, Derek saw the
full view of the most breathtaking deck. It wasn’t so much the view
outside, but the sheer scale of everything on the bridge. Rows and rows
of consoles and computers, with their respective technicians and

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operators. The construction was all dark, smooth and grey. Repetitive,
but nonetheless efficient. The pilots, captains and high ranking crew
were stationed near the front. Indistinctive chatter came from all across
the bridge. The view outside was seen through nine wide panels in a 3x3
formation.
“
You like it?” asked the Admiral as he walked up to him. “Only the middle
row is of glass. The rest? Screens. Live feed from the lens outside.
Maximum protec on.” Admiral Cheng seemed a bit less intense at this
moment. It was no ceable.
“
This place… its indescribable” commented Derek.
“
I know. It’s the only place I feel at peace. The closest thing I have to a
home.”
The Vice Admiral interrupted “that’s saying something, isn’t it?”
Cheng made a face that almost resembled a smile before turning back
to his station, gesturing Derek to come with.
“
We’re going to be making the jump to hyperspeed soon. Our a erburners
are ready to fire. We just need to make sure all the pursuit vessels in their
fleet are destroyed. The ship’s cannons and my men are out there right
now taking them out. It doesn’t ma er how many of the other ships catch
up to us. Most aren’t capable of speeds like ours. Certain vessels like the
pursuit ships, destroyers and flagships may have similar func ons but we
got our best engineers on ours. They won’t be catching us.” Cheng walked
over to his sta on. Three monitors were on his console. Each displaying
what was probably vital informa on. He brought up a radar, showing what
looked to be fi y enemy ships surrounding the Symphony. Derek looked up
and indeed, out the window were USOC ships a acking the front. “Don’t
worry. That pathe c light fire of theirs can’t pierce our hull.”