{"data":{"id":12739,"title":"Cassandra's Tears: Issue #1","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/12739-Cassandras-Tears-Issue-1","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/12739","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/12739","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Cassandra's Tears","images":[{"id":109,"name":"CalMasonFI_Crop.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/dzgf0umox510mr\/source\/CalMasonFI_Crop.jpg","alt":"","size":2001824,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2013-07-19T05:28:41+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/109","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/109\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"UEES Carrier \u201cGemini\u201d\n\nAO: CENTAURI SYSTEMS\nFour weeks\u2026 four long weeks since Cal Mason rescued the kidnapped Xi\u2019An diplomat and he was just getting cleared from Medical. He had that itch, that itch that came from being grounded too long. Pilots always got it. Almost like they didn\u2019t trust their limbs to carry them, they needed to move through this universe with wings and thrusters, not arms and legs. Cal\u2019s ribs still stung from that blast he took back on Vega but he didn\u2019t care. He had to get out of there. Cal made his way back to his quarters, nursing his side. The last shift of patrols just landed. They passed him on their way for a debriefing.\n\n\u201cHey there, Mason. They finally let you out?\u201d Cal turned. Penny looked tired but chipper as always. If there was something in this universe that could bring her mood down, Cal hadn\u2019t seen it.\n\n\u201cNot officially. How is it out there, kiddo?\u201d\n\n\u201cDanger at every turn. You know how it is.\u201d She said with a wink. \u201cHave you checked in with Grandpa yet?\u201d\n\n\u201cHeading there now.\u201d\n\nPenny jogged to catch up with the rest of her wing. She loosened the band to unleash her flame-red hair and turned.\n\n\u201cOh Cal,\u201d she said backing up, \u201cstop calling me kiddo.\u201d * * * *\nAdmiral Showalter was not in a good mood. Like Penny, if there was something in this universe that could put Showalter in a good mood, Cal hadn\u2019t seen it. The admiral, nicknamed Grandpa by those with a death wish, was a lifelong soldier. Survivor of multiple ground campaigns, hundreds of sorties, and more-than-likely dozens of covert ops, he had his career etched into his very features. His narrow eyes took in everything but never gave up anything.\n\n\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be out of Medical.\u201d He grumbled as he looked over the doctor\u2019s report on his screen. \u201cBesides, you aren\u2019t going to be anywhere near a ship until your review. Western Command is all over me for that stunt you pulled.\u201d\n\n\u201cSorry, sir.\u201d Cal could barely stifle a grin. Afterburning after a smuggler ship through the bustling city of Titus at rush hour was liable to ruffle some feathers. It was a hell of a chase though.\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t sorry me, kid. You did good out there. I\u2019m not going to let them scapegoat you to curry political favors.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks but don\u2019t put yourself in any hot water because of me.\u201d\n\n\u201cShut up, Mason. You think I got to where I am without being able to sidestep some political pitfalls?\u201d That\u2019s why all of Showalter\u2019s troops would eat a bullet for the man. Showalter shut down his screen and looked at Mason. \u201cBut I\u2019m still not putting you back on the rotation.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll beg.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ll hit an injured man. Now get out of here.\u201d\n\nCal decided not to test him. He was going to get back in the sky though. Just had to figure out how. Turns out he wouldn\u2019t have to wait long.\n\nA distress call had gone out the second the Vanduul raiding party hit the system. Feet thundered across the grates. Engines ignited. The carrier\u2019s massive bay doors rolled back.\n\nPenny strapped into her seat as her NavComputers booted. She looked across the bay. There was Cal, passing in front of her ship. He grinned and saluted.\n\n\u201cCrazy son-of-a\u2026\u201d\n\nAdmiral Showalter was on the bridge when Mason took off. He knew instantly, he could recognize that little takeoff flourish anywhere. He thumbed the Comms.\n\n\u201cDammit Mason. You get that bird back on the deck. I\u2019m only going to tell you once.\u201d\n\n\u201cSorry, sir, Nav\u2019s already locked in. Will try to-\u201c Cal muted the channel. He settled into his seat. That thrill of the impending storm rose inside him. This was home to him. He knew it the first time he strapped in and every time since.\n\nPenny burned up to him. She glared at him for a few seconds. \u201cWhat the hell are you doing?\u201d\n\n\u201cLending a hand.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Admiral told me to blast you out of the sky.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll be good. Promise.\u201d Penny stared at him for a few moments. Finally she shook her head.\n\n\u201cFine. Cover our six and don\u2019t do anything stupid.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome on, Penny, you know me.\u201d\n\n\u201cExactly.\u201d\n\nCal fell back into formation. The wing stretched sixteen ships wide; ten Cestus dogfighters, three Zippers, and two Anvils. Should be enough to handle whatever the Vanduul got cooking.\n\nOn the Gemini\u2019s bridge, Showalter watched the blips of the raiding party cruise through the system on the mapsphere. They disappeared into the planet Yar\u2019s atmo. That gave him pause.\n\nWhy there? He thought. There were much more densely populated planets in the system. The Vanduul hadn\u2019t been afraid of a Fleet presence in the past. If they\u2019re here to smash and grab, why hit a desolate planet on the rim with only a handful of settlements and research stations?\n\n\u201cAdmiral. New contact. Bearing eight-seven-zero.\u201d Whitacre, their SIG-INT specialist, bounced the new radar blip onto the sphere. Showalter took one look and knew immediately.\n\nIt was a Vanduul flagship. Heading to intercept them.\n\n\u201cWell, well, I guess someone\u2019s come to play.\u201d He gave the order for the Gemini to ready itself for war.\n\nTO BE CONTINUED. . .","de_DE":"UEES Tr\u00e4ger \" Zwillinge \".\n\nAO: CENTAURI-SYSTEME\n\nVier Wochen... vier lange Wochen seit Cal Mason den entf\u00fchrten Xi'An-Diplomaten gerettet hat und er wurde gerade von der Krankenstation entlassen. Er hatte dieses Jucken, dieses Jucken, das dadurch entstand, dass er zu lange Hausarrest hatte. Piloten haben es immer verstanden. Fast so, als ob sie ihren Gliedma\u00dfen nicht trauen w\u00fcrden, sie zu tragen, mussten sie sich durch dieses Universum bewegen, mit Fl\u00fcgeln und Triebwerken, nicht mit Armen und Beinen. Cals Rippen stechen immer noch von der Explosion, die er auf Wega zur\u00fcckgebracht hat, aber es war ihm egal. Er musste da raus. Cal machte sich auf den Weg zur\u00fcck in sein Quartier und pflegte seine Seite. Die letzte Schicht der Patrouillen ist gerade gelandet. Sie haben ihn auf dem Weg zu einer Nachbesprechung \u00fcberholt.\n\n\"Hallo, Mason. Haben sie dich endlich rausgelassen?\" Cal drehte sich um. Penny sah m\u00fcde aus, aber munter wie immer. Wenn es etwas in diesem Universum gab, das ihre Stimmung herabsetzen konnte, hatte Cal es nicht gesehen.\n\n\"Nicht offiziell. Wie ist es da drau\u00dfen, Kleiner?\"\n\n\"Gefahr auf Schritt und Tritt. Du wei\u00dft, wie das ist.\" sagte sie mit einem Augenzwinkern. \"Hast du dich schon bei Opa gemeldet?\"\n\n\"Ich fahre jetzt dorthin.\"\n\nPenny joggte, um den Rest ihres Fl\u00fcgels einzuholen. Sie lockerte das Band, um ihr feuerrotes Haar zu entfesseln, und drehte sich um.\n\n\"Oh Cal\", sagte sie zur\u00fcck, \"h\u00f6r auf, mich Kindchen zu nennen.\"\n\n\n* * * *\nAdmiral Showalter war nicht gut gelaunt. Wie Penny, wenn es etwas in diesem Universum gab, das Showalter in eine gute Stimmung versetzen konnte, hatte Cal es nicht gesehen. Der Admiral, von denen mit Todeswunsch Opa genannt, war ein lebenslanger Soldat. Als \u00dcberlebender mehrerer Bodenkampagnen, Hunderte von Eins\u00e4tzen und mehr als wahrscheinlich Dutzende von verdeckten Operationen hatte er seine Karriere in seine Z\u00fcge eingegraben. Seine engen Augen nahmen alles auf, gaben aber nie etwas auf.\n\"Du solltest nicht aus der Klinik raus sein.\" Er meckerte, als er den Bericht des Arztes auf seinem Bildschirm durchsah. \"Au\u00dferdem wirst du bis zu deiner \u00dcberpr\u00fcfung nicht in der N\u00e4he eines Schiffes sein. Das Westkommando hat mich wegen des Stunts, den du abgezogen hast, voll im Visier.\"\n\n\"Tut mir leid, Sir.\" Cal konnte kaum ein Grinsen ersticken. Die Nachverbrennung nach einem Schmugglerschiff durch die gesch\u00e4ftige Stadt Titus zur Hauptverkehrszeit konnte einige Federn aufw\u00fchlen. Es war jedoch eine h\u00f6llische Jagd.\n\n\"Tut mir nicht leid, Junge. Du hast dich da drau\u00dfen gut geschlagen. Ich werde nicht zulassen, dass sie dich zum S\u00fcndenbock machen, um sich politische Gef\u00e4lligkeiten zu schnappen.\"\n\n\"Danke, aber steck dich wegen mir nicht in die hei\u00dfe Gosse.\"\n\n\"Halt die Klappe, Mason. Glaubst du, ich bin dort angekommen, wo ich bin, ohne dass ich einige politische Fallstricke umgehen konnte?\" Deshalb w\u00fcrden alle Truppen von Showalter eine Kugel f\u00fcr den Mann essen. Showalter schaltete seinen Bildschirm aus und sah Mason an. \"Aber ich werde dich immer noch nicht wieder in die Rotation bringen.\"\n\n\"Ich werde betteln.\"\n\n\"Und ich schlage einen verletzten Mann. Jetzt verschwinde von hier.\"\n\nCal beschloss, ihn nicht zu testen. Er wollte aber wieder in den Himmel kommen. Ich musste nur herausfinden, wie. Es stellte sich heraus, dass er nicht lange warten musste.\n\nEin Notruf war erloschen, als die Vanduul-R\u00e4ubergruppe das System traf. Die F\u00fc\u00dfe donnerten \u00fcber die Gitter. Motoren gez\u00fcndet. Die massiven Erkert\u00fcren des Tr\u00e4gers rollten zur\u00fcck.\n\nPenny schnallte sich in ihren Sitz, als ihre Nav-Computer hochgefahren wurden. Sie blickte \u00fcber die Bucht. Da war Cal, die vor ihrem Schiff vorbeiging. Er grinste und gr\u00fc\u00dfte.\n\n\"Verr\u00fcckter Sohn eines....\"\n\nAdmiral Showalter war auf der Br\u00fccke, als Mason abhaute. Er wusste sofort, dass er erkennen konnte, dass der kleine Start \u00fcberall bl\u00fcht. Er hat die Kommunikation gest\u00f6rt.\n\n\" Verdammter Mason. Du bringst den Vogel wieder auf das Deck. Ich werde es dir nur einmal sagen.\"\n\n\"Tut mir leid, Sir, Nav ist bereits eingesperrt. Werde versuchen zu--\" Cal Stummschaltung des Kanals. Er setzte sich auf seinen Platz. Der Nervenkitzel des bevorstehenden Sturms stieg in ihm auf. Das war seine Heimat. Er wusste es schon beim ersten Anschnallen und seitdem.\n\nPenny hat ihn in Brand gesteckt. Sie starrte ihn f\u00fcr ein paar Sekunden an. \"Was zum Teufel machst du da?\"\n\n\"Ich helfe dir.\"\n\n\"Der Admiral sagte mir, ich solle dich vom Himmel schie\u00dfen.\"\n\n\"Ich werde brav sein. Versprochen.\" Penny starrte ihn f\u00fcr einen Moment an. Schlie\u00dflich sch\u00fcttelte sie den Kopf.\n\n\"Gut. Deckt unsere Sechs ab und macht keine Dummheiten.\"\n\n\"Komm schon, Penny, du kennst mich.\"\n\n\"Genau.\"\n\nCal fiel in die Formation zur\u00fcck. Der Fl\u00fcgel dehnte sechzehn Schiffe breit aus; zehn Cestus Hundek\u00e4mpfer, drei Rei\u00dfverschl\u00fcsse und zwei Ambosse. Sollte ausreichen, um mit allem fertig zu werden, was die Vanduul gekocht haben.\n\nAuf der Br\u00fccke der Zwillinge beobachtete Showalter die Blips der Schlachtgruppe, die auf der Kartenkugel durch das System fuhren. Sie verschwanden in der Atmosph\u00e4re des Planeten Yar. Das gab ihm eine Pause.\n\nWarum dort? dachte er. Es gab viel mehr dicht besiedelte Planeten im System. Die Vanduul hatten in der Vergangenheit keine Angst vor einer Flottenpr\u00e4senz gehabt. Wenn sie hier sind, um zu zerschlagen und zu schnappen, warum einen trostlosen Planeten am Rande mit nur einer Handvoll Siedlungen und Forschungsstationen treffen?\n\n\"Admiral. Neuer Kontakt. Lager acht, sieben, null.\" Whitacre, ihr SIG-INT-Spezialist, prallte den neuen Radarstoss auf die Kugel. Showalter warf einen Blick darauf und wusste es sofort.\n\nEs war ein Vanduul-Flaggschiff. Auf dem Weg, sie abzufangen.\n\n\"Nun, nun, ich sch\u00e4tze, es ist jemand zum Spielen gekommen.\" Er gab den Befehl, dass die Zwillinge sich auf den Krieg vorbereiten sollten.\n\n\n\n\nWIRD FORTGESETZT. . .","zh_CN":"UEES Carrier \u201cGemini\u201d\n\nAO: CENTAURI SYSTEMS\nFour weeks\u2026 four long weeks since Cal Mason rescued the kidnapped Xi\u2019An diplomat and he was just getting cleared from Medical. He had that itch, that itch that came from being grounded too long. Pilots always got it. Almost like they didn\u2019t trust their limbs to carry them, they needed to move through this universe with wings and thrusters, not arms and legs. Cal\u2019s ribs still stung from that blast he took back on Vega but he didn\u2019t care. He had to get out of there. Cal made his way back to his quarters, nursing his side. The last shift of patrols just landed. They passed him on their way for a debriefing.\n\n\u201cHey there, Mason. They finally let you out?\u201d Cal turned. Penny looked tired but chipper as always. If there was something in this universe that could bring her mood down, Cal hadn\u2019t seen it.\n\n\u201cNot officially. How is it out there, kiddo?\u201d\n\n\u201cDanger at every turn. You know how it is.\u201d She said with a wink. \u201cHave you checked in with Grandpa yet?\u201d\n\n\u201cHeading there now.\u201d\n\nPenny jogged to catch up with the rest of her wing. She loosened the band to unleash her flame-red hair and turned.\n\n\u201cOh Cal,\u201d she said backing up, \u201cstop calling me kiddo.\u201d * * * *\nAdmiral Showalter was not in a good mood. Like Penny, if there was something in this universe that could put Showalter in a good mood, Cal hadn\u2019t seen it. The admiral, nicknamed Grandpa by those with a death wish, was a lifelong soldier. Survivor of multiple ground campaigns, hundreds of sorties, and more-than-likely dozens of covert ops, he had his career etched into his very features. His narrow eyes took in everything but never gave up anything.\n\n\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be out of Medical.\u201d He grumbled as he looked over the doctor\u2019s report on his screen. \u201cBesides, you aren\u2019t going to be anywhere near a ship until your review. Western Command is all over me for that stunt you pulled.\u201d\n\n\u201cSorry, sir.\u201d Cal could barely stifle a grin. Afterburning after a smuggler ship through the bustling city of Titus at rush hour was liable to ruffle some feathers. It was a hell of a chase though.\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t sorry me, kid. You did good out there. I\u2019m not going to let them scapegoat you to curry political favors.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks but don\u2019t put yourself in any hot water because of me.\u201d\n\n\u201cShut up, Mason. You think I got to where I am without being able to sidestep some political pitfalls?\u201d That\u2019s why all of Showalter\u2019s troops would eat a bullet for the man. Showalter shut down his screen and looked at Mason. \u201cBut I\u2019m still not putting you back on the rotation.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll beg.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019ll hit an injured man. Now get out of here.\u201d\n\nCal decided not to test him. He was going to get back in the sky though. Just had to figure out how. Turns out he wouldn\u2019t have to wait long.\n\nA distress call had gone out the second the Vanduul raiding party hit the system. Feet thundered across the grates. Engines ignited. The carrier\u2019s massive bay doors rolled back.\n\nPenny strapped into her seat as her NavComputers booted. She looked across the bay. There was Cal, passing in front of her ship. He grinned and saluted.\n\n\u201cCrazy son-of-a\u2026\u201d\n\nAdmiral Showalter was on the bridge when Mason took off. He knew instantly, he could recognize that little takeoff flourish anywhere. He thumbed the Comms.\n\n\u201cDammit Mason. You get that bird back on the deck. I\u2019m only going to tell you once.\u201d\n\n\u201cSorry, sir, Nav\u2019s already locked in. Will try to-\u201c Cal muted the channel. He settled into his seat. That thrill of the impending storm rose inside him. This was home to him. He knew it the first time he strapped in and every time since.\n\nPenny burned up to him. She glared at him for a few seconds. \u201cWhat the hell are you doing?\u201d\n\n\u201cLending a hand.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Admiral told me to blast you out of the sky.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll be good. Promise.\u201d Penny stared at him for a few moments. Finally she shook her head.\n\n\u201cFine. Cover our six and don\u2019t do anything stupid.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome on, Penny, you know me.\u201d\n\n\u201cExactly.\u201d\n\nCal fell back into formation. The wing stretched sixteen ships wide; ten Cestus dogfighters, three Zippers, and two Anvils. Should be enough to handle whatever the Vanduul got cooking.\n\nOn the Gemini\u2019s bridge, Showalter watched the blips of the raiding party cruise through the system on the mapsphere. They disappeared into the planet Yar\u2019s atmo. That gave him pause.\n\nWhy there? He thought. There were much more densely populated planets in the system. The Vanduul hadn\u2019t been afraid of a Fleet presence in the past. If they\u2019re here to smash and grab, why hit a desolate planet on the rim with only a handful of settlements and research stations?\n\n\u201cAdmiral. New contact. Bearing eight-seven-zero.\u201d Whitacre, their SIG-INT specialist, bounced the new radar blip onto the sphere. Showalter took one look and knew immediately.\n\nIt was a Vanduul flagship. Heading to intercept them.\n\n\u201cWell, well, I guess someone\u2019s come to play.\u201d He gave the order for the Gemini to ready itself for war.\n\nTO BE CONTINUED. . ."},"links_count":0,"comment_count":83,"created_at":"2012-10-19T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"13 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-04-29 20:57:18","valid_relations":["images","links","translations"],"prev_id":12738,"next_id":12740}}