Levels of Heaven: Depths of Hell

Part - 2

Bucky Tosskin

Candice Naples

Gladys City

Carpathia : Star Cruiser/ cargo vessel : troop transport.

Battle of Sturges.

Minear 2

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Bucky Tosskin pulled his wagon rig up next to the area where he kept his beasts. He unhooked the rope cord from around the wind chimes, which were attached to a pole at the back of his buckboard.

“Time to feed the beasties,” he said as he grabbed the small chain that hung down and ran through the middle of the chimes. He pulled the chain and began to whip it around vigorously. The sounds it made were very familiar to folk that worked out in the countryside on the farms and ranches of the border and rim worlds. It was the ringing sound of the “chuck wagon” announcing that supper was served, or in this case ,breakfast.

“Time to eat, you ravenous creatures!” Bucky shouted as he released the chain and climbed down the buckboard.

At that moment, the sound of a aircraft flying overhead focused his attention skyward. A spacecraft had descended through the atmosphere and was now on a direct path towards the small town of Gladys City on the small moon of Minear 2. That was odd in itself, not very many space vessels made their way to this lonely world, and certainly not many to these parts. Yet this was the second craft he’d witnessed that day.

The first had been a Firefly transport vessel identified as “Serenity” by her hull markings. Bucky had smiled when he’d seen that vessel. He had been friends with the Captain who commanded that ship. An acquaintance from his younger, wilder days, after the Unification War.

Bucky had been in contact with the commander of Serenity through cortex messages, and the Captain had asked, once they’d landed, if they could meet in the township of Gladys City? He had agreed, and would soon venture into town to see his friend, as soon as he finished feeding his critters. It would be good to see his old friend and meet his crew.