Astro Adventures
Astro Adventures is a fiction series by Mathew Robert Ignash.
Contents
Astro Adventures Vol. 1 - A Commander is Born
Part 1
Narrator - Astro Adventures! Follow Commander Astroblast in his relentless battle against those who endanger freedom of the Space Republic - but Commander Astroblast was not always the leader of the Protectors. Once space ships were nearly powerless to combat the menaces that terrorized the black skies, and then in a universe fallen to chaos there appeared a leader! This is the story of a man whose courage and dedication expanded to all the planets, and of how Captain Steve Astro became commander of the Protectors. Our story begins when Captain Astro piloted a cruiser on a routine patrol mission off his home world, Hirano. During the mission he receives a tachyon telegraph message.
Captain Astro -This is Captain Steve Astro of the cruiser C-202, what can I do for you Senator?
Space Senator Alvarez - Captain Astro, I know this is quite unusual, but I have a special mission for you. I need you to meet with the interplanetary cargo ship Alexandria when it reaches your patrol zone perimeter and escort it to Hirano spaceport. The ship is already inward bound from planet Mori.
Captain Astro - Senator? It is very unusual to divert from my patrol to escort one cargo ship.
Space Senator Alvarez - That ship is carrying the plans and miniature prototype for a hyper secret experimental space propulsion drive. Once the construction yards on Hirano start to build ships with the new drive we can have smaller, more efficient ships with a much longer range. Our patrol zones will be able to extend to the limits of the interplanetary transport lanes themselves.
Captain Astro – That’s excellent news Senator, there is no escort assigned to the Alexandria?
Space Senator Alvarez - The original plan was to send the drive below the radar of those who might be tempted to steal it by sending it on a common cargo vessel, but recent intelligence reports show that the information leaked and now the mission is in danger. The Alexandria will be without escort until you meet with it. Yours is the nearest patrol ship. I am sending you the intercept course.
Captain Astro - Acknowledged Senator. Setting course and proceeding as directed. (Rocket sound effect)
Part 2
Narrator - As the C-202 hurries to meet with the Alexandria, another ship is moving to intercept. Commanding the bizarre green space zeppelin is the scarred form of Professor Splice, and at his side his minion D-Chop, a derranged axe-wielding bio-mechanical Tech Drone.
Professor Splice - That's the Alexandria on the scanner. Get the zero ray generator activated before the escort arrives.
D-Chop – Da Zero Ray is ready Professor! It’ll completely disrupt their propulsion, weapons and tachyon telegraph.
Professor Splice - Good, our bio-mechanical equipment is immune to the effects of the ray, so it won't effect us. ACTIVATE THE ZERO RAY GENERATOR! (zero ray sound effect) It's working just as planned. Their propulsion has shut down. Now let's get over there and relieve them of their precious cargo! Extend the boarding claws!
Part 3
Narrator - As Captain Astro sights the Alexandria, the ship looks to be dead in space. The C-202 links up with the Alexandria, Captain Astro enters the ship. Several of the internal bulkhead doors cut open, as if by a powerful axe. Captain Astro is able to bring around the Captain of the Alexandira.
Alexandria Captain - The power failed and none of the weapons worked just as they sighted a strange green ship on an intercept course. If it wasn't for a few of our maintenance Tech Drones, nothing would have been working.
R-Brand - I think the Alexandria controls will work now Captain, everything checks out.
Captain Astro - Is this one of your Tech Drones?
Alexandria Captain: Yes, this is R-Brand, he's one of the newer model bio-mechanicals. He and a few others like him were the only equipment on the ship uneffected by the shutdown.
R-Brand: Captain, I recovered a partial recording of the ship they encountered from just before everything went dead. Running a recognition check (computer bleep sound effects). We have an identification Captain!
Captain Astro – No need, R-Brand, I’d recognize that menace anywhere, that’s the ship that hybrid-making madman, Professor Splice. I thought I heard the last of him when we defeated his plan to take over Hirano with an army of trained highly armed space rabbits. Seems he’s up some new tricks, but what does he want with the new space drive? The Alexandria seems back online. Rumor has it Professor Splice has a base in a nearly asteroid field. Another escout is on it's way to make sure you get safely to Hirano, so I am going after the Professor. Before, I go, I have a favor to ask...
Part 4
Narrator - Blasting off the C-202 makes it way cross the space lanes to the asteroid field.
Captain Astro - There's a ship registering on the scanners, going into the asteroid field. That's Splice! It will mean burning off my fuel reserves, but I need to cut in the boosters to intercept.
Narrator - Using the last of his fuel to catch up with the Professor's ship. Captain Astro sends a message to the ship on a local tachyon telegraph line.
Captain Astro - This is your final warning Professor Splice. Give yourself up and turn over the plans.
Professor Splice - You're out of your league Astro. Go back to your pathetic little world before you hurt yourself. Your ship will soon be rendered dead thanks to my zero ray generator. I'm going to low your ship to pieces.
Captain Astro - Firing lasers! (clicking sound). Nothing! The rockets, dead. The propulsion, weapons and tachyon telegraph... all dead!
(sound of ship exploding)
(insert commercial for Astro Crisps cereal)
Part 5
Captain Astro - Firing lasers! (clicking sound). Nothing! The rockets, dead. The propulsion, weapons and tachyon telegraph... all dead!.. Are you ready R-Brand?
R-Brand - Yes Sir!
Narrator - In his crimson space suit, Captain Astro goes to work with the cutting torch arm from R-Brand to cut into the Professor's, in a rear compartment.
(sound of C-202 exploding)
Professor Splice - That's the end of that space-bound do-gooder!
D-Chop - Professor, da air pressure indicator for the rear compartment says it's dropped briefly.
Professor Splice - Go check it out!
Captain Astro - All right hold it you two!
Professor Splice - Astro! Get him D-Chop, his weapons won't work in the zero ray generator field.
Captain Astro - Not so fast (action whip sound), I figured you own weapons would be immune to your ray, so I got this rifle and energy whip when I got on board your ship from your own weapons locker!
Professor Splice - You think you can stop me Astroblast?
D-Chop - I'll get 'im Professor! (sound of missiles firing, and action whip sound)
Professor Splice - No, D-Chop you fool, don't fire your missiles inside the ship! You've fractured the fuel lines. (alarm bells sound, countdown engine overload begins)
Narrator: With a shot from Captain Astro's rifle the deranged Tech Drone falls to pieces. (laser rifle sound, metal falling sounds)
Captain Astro - Looks like your Tech Drone did my job for me. Come on R-Brand, grab the plans and prototype and lets go. This ship is dead in the sky Splice, your welcome to come with us, there is a nice little cell waiting for you.
Professor Splice - I'd never give myself up fool!
Captain Astro - Suit yourself Professor! When I get back to Hirano I'll send a ship to pick you up. (sound of the airlock cycling).
Part 6
Narrator - Several days later Captain Astro is meeting with Senator Alvarez in his office.
Senator Alvarez - That was some amazing work you did there. Not only did you save the plans and the miniature prototype drone, but tying the drive into your space suit with that Tech Drone and using it to get yourself back to the space lanes where your suit's short-range tachyon telegraph could get a signal to the nearest ship with a stroke of genius.
Captain Astro - Thank you Senator, but I wasn't completely successful. Professor Splice wasn't there when the Hirano patrol ship came to pick him up. I can only guess he was working with others. Not to mention I lost the C-202 because I underestimated him.
Senator Alvarez - That's what we need to talk about. Now that we have the drive plans we are not only manufacturing faster more efficient cruisers, but we've worked on a design based the modifications to your space suit. The technicians have come with a suit with the power of a patrol cruiser thanks to tying in the miniature space drive and that Tech Drone. We are putting together a team of specialists to hunt down Professor Splice and whoever he was working for, and protect the spacelanes. What do you say, would you be willing to don that armor and lead the team... Commander?
Captain Astro - Commander?!.. Sir, I can't think of anything I'd rather do.
Narrator - And so Commander Astroblast, the leader of the Protectors was appointed in his never ending battle against the menaces of deep space. Tune in next time for another Astro Adventure!
