Chapter 10 – Moving On – ToBeLikeJesus

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

Renewed

As Wade recovered physically, mentally, and spiritually over the weeks, he started noticing the demons were less tormenting. Instead, he felt a strong sense of hope and purpose. More than once, Wade thought he saw his fallen friend Mike but he remained fixed in reality. The chaplain’s talks about light and darkness, good and evil, had helped Wade go through this transformation. He felt the heavy burden of despair and loneliness falling away, replaced by a strong sense of destiny.

Then after five long weeks, new orders came to Wade’s datapad. The military jargon was thick but his eyes fixed on the words, “You are hereby reassigned to Flight Academy on Rinart 3 for Dropship Insertion School.” As he thumbed the pad to the next correspondents, he was also greeted with the orders promoting him from Private to Private First Class. He tried to hold it back but a wide grin crept from ear to ear. His first promotion. His recovery was complete – he was being reassigned to rejoin his brother Marines Alex and Briggs. The next step in becoming a Deep Space Ranger.

The smile broadened even more as the implications hit him. No more suffering alone in medical purgatory, his sanity being chipped away. He was back in the action, back in the training pipeline.

A profound sense of freedom filled Wade as he left the infirmary behind. He could still taste lingering sorrow for the fallen. But he felt he could put their sacrifice into perspective and use their memories as a springboard to justify the price they paid.

Even the memories of the monstrous Skravak Hunter’s crimson glare couldn’t shake Wade’s resolve. He met them head-on, the old fears fading behind him. Wade breathed out steadily, and the Skravak seemed to unravel into dust on the winds that created it. All its fearsome, soulless power was only a temporary vapor destined to be forgotten.

“Where there is darkness, the light of Christ must also abide,” Chaplain Bronson’s words echoed. The path ahead was still obscured and difficult – but he would endure it with the same resilience as those before him. Wade breathed deeply again, exhaling into the churning possibility before him. Let the prize blaze anew!

Fresh Meat

Two days later, Wade found himself being ushered through the sterile corridors of Ramsey Station to the landing pads, his duffel slung over one shoulder as he tried to absorb every detail of his surroundings. The rhythmic pulse of ordnance fire that had become such a pervasive backdrop was noticeably absent, allowing the din of activity to rise unimpeded.

Several ships were loading and unloading cargo on various landing pads. Technicians and ground crew hustled about their duties with an almost frenetic intensity, attending to the harsh realities of the war machine’s logistical demands. Ammunition carts were trundled to and fro, while hazmat-garbed figures tended to ominous containment pods being offloaded from the grav-sleds.

Wade felt his pulse quicken as his gaze settled upon one pad with threatening cargo being offloaded with extreme care. The unmistakable contours of the Skravak specimens lurking within the reinforced stasis chambers. Despite the precautions and safeguards in place, an air of menace seemed to radiate from the vile creatures, their sinuous forms pressing against the resilient transparisteel in silent, mindless rage. This was fresh meat for the Zoo.

He tore his gaze away from the grisly cargo, as a formation of baby-faced recruits marched past him, DIs yelling and screaming. This was the new crop being delivered to the merciless crucible they called boot camp. A leaden weight settled in the pit of his stomach, he knew the harsh reality that awaited these naive souls.

Soon, they would be baptized in the same horrors that Wade and his battle-hardened brothers and sisters had been forced to embrace upon arriving here green and idealistic. They would be thrown into the unforgiving melee, left to be forged into hardened warriors by the searing flames of combat or consumed by its insatiable hunger.

The cycle was perpetual, replenishing the ranks as quickly as the Zoo depleted them. Wade could only watch stoically as the fresh recruits marched wide-eyed toward their grim initiation, blissfully unaware of the nightmare into which they were being recruited. He knew the idealism would soon be scoured from their eyes, replaced by a thousand-yard stare that betrayed the soul-crushing tribulations they would endure.

The ISC Dominion

Wade squared his shoulders and approached the landing platform where his transport awaited. The gentle thrum of repulsor fields caused the deck plating to shudder in subtle undulations, heralding the imposing presence of the immense vessel standing sentinel over the other smaller ships.

Wade’s breath caught in his throat as the full magnificence of the newly-arrived starship came into view. This was no mere troopship or heavy gunboat – this was the vanguard of humanity’s defiance. The epitome of cutting-edge engineering and an unmistakable statement of their species’ refusal to be cowed by the relentless Skravak threat.

The ISC Dominion. Just the designation alone carried a reverential weight, its very utterance seeming to resonate with the legacies of those who had come before. Heroes, pioneers and the brightest minds that the Confederation could muster – all had played their roles in shaping this pinnacle of human achievement.

Over two kilometers of sleek length, at 150 meters in width, the ship’s interior housed ten acres of flight deck for her fighters. With its predominant arrowhead contours, the Dominion exuded an unmistakable aura of power and purpose. Layer upon layer of reinforced armor plating sheathed the outer hull, an impregnable bastion deflecting even the most punishing pulse missiles. And bristling along its flanks were enough banks of autocannons, rail-batteries and missile pods to decimate any enemy with ill intent.

Yet for all its snarling aggression, there was an undeniable grace and elegance to the starship’s form. Almost as if it were a living sculpture, a defiant statement hammered into being by the creative force of its engineers and builders. This was no mere juggernaut, no mindless dreadnaught consigned to bludgeoning its foes through overwhelming force alone.

No, the Dominion blended power and purpose into a transcendent unison, radiating an unmistakable sense that its occupants were part of something far more sophisticated than met the eye. A self-contained world united in its singular directive – to defeat that darkness called the Skravak.

Aboard the Dominion

Wade swallowed hard as he approached the Dominion’s boarding ramp, duffel slung over his shoulder. A trim figure in a white Navy uniform waited at the base of the ramp.

“Private First Class Kovacs?” the petty officer asked crisply.

“Yes, ma’am,” Wade replied, snapping to attention.

“Petty Officer Third Class Susan Greer. You don’t have to be so formal, I’m only one grade above your’s. Just call me Susan and relax. Follow me and I’ll show you to the enlisted men’s berth.”

“Yes Ma’am…uh…I mean Susan. I’m Wade. Pleased to meet you.” Wade was taken back by the encounter.

She turned sharply and Wade fell into step behind her. After the harsh formalities and brutal discipline of boot camp, Susan’s friendly demeanor and casual manner were a shock to Wade’s psyche. Her understanding tone and simple kindness reminded him of another life, life before the crucible. Trying not to gape too openly at the Dominion’s luxurious interior, they made their way through the corridors. The spacious berth was an open bay of bunks, but far more accommodating than the cramped, stark quarters on the transport ship Argus.

“Not exactly what you were expecting, is it Wade?” Susan gave a thin smile as Wade looked around in awe.

“No, ma’am.. uh I mean… Susan…this is…I mean I didn’t think I’d rate such accommodations as a Private.”

“Well, you’ve earned it Private First Class Kovacs.” Susan slapped the side of his arm. “Says here you’re one of the few survivors from Carthis 7, and just completed recovery at the Ramsey Station infirmary.” She glanced at the datapad. “Quite a difficult path for someone so junior in their training pipeline.”

Wade felt a lump in his throat but forced himself to keep his composure. “It was…challenging. I lost a lot of good friends, like Mike Jansen. But the chaplain helped me work through it. Helped me find my way again.” Wade wondered why it was so important to mention the chaplain and his struggles to a stranger. He winced.

Susan nodded. “The fire that doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, as they say. You’re being reassigned to Dropship Insertion School on Rinart 3 to rejoin your mates. Your next step to becoming a real Deep Space Ranger. The Dominion just happened to be enroute and you scored a ride on the finest ship in the fleet. You must be doing something right in the good Lord’s eyes”

A proud smile broke across Wade’s face. “Uh…yeah…I’m trying to figure things out. My friends Alex and Briggs are there. It’ll be good to link back up with them, keep pushing toward our dream.”

“Well, you’ve earned a ride on our comfortable machine of death.” Susan said with a snicker. “Just take it easy for now and get your mind right for the next phase. The Dominion will have you planet-side before you know it.”

Wade nodded eagerly. “Thank you, Susan. I can’t wait to…”

A nearby comm whistled and Susan glanced at her wrist unit. “Duty calls, Wade. Just find an empty bunk and get stowed. You’ll be briefed on routine and duties once we make the jump. Take a look around but don’t get lost.”

With that, she turned and strode off down the corridor, leaving Wade to soak in his new surroundings. He hefted his duffel onto an open bunk, a profound sense of lightness filling his chest. At long last, the nightmare was fading into the past. A new future beckoned, the path stretching out bright and clear before him once more.

Wade ventured to do his own little recon of the Dominion as they prepared to depart Carthis 7, he was amazed by its interior. While the outer shell looked harsh, the inside was warm and inviting. Soft lighting and fabrics created a relaxing atmosphere, meant to help people feel calm during long journeys in space. The hallways had huge windows giving incredible views of the massive ship’s engines and outer structure.

Even though the Dominion contained unbelievably powerful engines and energy sources, the living areas remained perfectly peaceful. Advanced systems isolated those sections, making them feel like a quiet island despite the awesome forces contained within the armored outer hull.

Wade felt proud to be one of the few allowed aboard such an incredible vessel. The Dominion was like something from his childhood dreams of exploring the galaxy. But this was very real – as real as the harsh training that had toughened his spirit during boot camp.

Vote of Non-Confidence

Wade felt the spaceship Dominion vibrating as its powerful antimatter engines fired up. He was about to jump through a slipstream – a tunnel through space that would let them travel incredibly fast. As the Dominion accelerated into the jump, the stars outside blurred into streaks of blue light.

Making his way back to the male berths, Wade found the area buzzing with activity as other passengers settled in. A gruff-looking Navy Chief stood at the front, calling for attention.

“Listen up, people! You’re guests aboard the finest ship in the fleet, but that doesn’t give you a pass to be idiots. There’s a short list of rules you need to follow…”

The Chief launched into a no-nonsense briefing on policies, restricted areas, emergency protocols and general do’s-and-don’ts for their stay aboard the Dominion. Wade listened intently, not wanting even the slightest misstep.

As the briefing wound down, a wiry Marine Lance Corporal shouldered past Wade. “You the NG from Carthis 7?” he grunted, eyeing Wade dismissively.

“NG?” Wade asked, thrown by the jargon.

“Newby Grunt,” the Lance Corporal sneered. “I’m Lance Corporal Connelly. Don’t get too cozy on this luxury cruiser, kid. The Dominion will just be dropping our sorry carcasses back into the meat grinder soon enough.”

Wade stiffened at the harsh assessment. “I’m headed to Rinart 3 for Dropship Insertion School, to join the Deep Space Rangers.”

Connelly barked out a mocking laugh. “Oh yeah? Well good luck with that, Newby. I tried out for them Rangers a while back. Washed out after the first week – they chewed me up and spit me out like a bad meal.”

Leaning in, Connelly’s eyes bored into Wade with a penetrating stare. “Based on what I see, you don’t have what it takes, kid. That stint on Carthis 7 broke you already.”

With that, Connelly gave Wade’s shoulder a contemptuous shove and stalked off, leaving the younger Marine fuming. Wade clenched his fists, a surge of anger and determination rising within him. He’d prove that jaded knucklehead wrong.

Stewing over the encounter, Wade made his way to the Dominion’s mess deck to grab a meal. The amenities were indeed plush, a far cry from the stark rations and meal preps of boot camp and Ramsey Station. Savory aromas and the sizzle of fresh-cooked cuisine wafted through the air as attendants in crisp uniforms oversaw the serving stations.

Settling at a vacant table with his tray, Wade gazed at the thick steak, veggies and potatoes feeling a twinge of guilt. So many still suffered in the war zones while he dined in relative luxury.

Prayer Buddy

After finishing his meal, Wade returned to his bunk, reaching into his pocket for the New Testament Chaplain Bronson had given him. The worn, creased cover felt familiar in his hand – a tangible link to the wisdom that had guided him through his darkest hours.

Thumbing open the book, he searched for familiar passages, yearning for that same sense of solace and purpose they had once provided. Deep down, Wade knew the coming days at Dropship Insertion School would test his mettle like never before. But this time, he was determined to prevail – and maybe, just maybe, find answers to the questions still gnawing at his soul.

The pages fell open to 1 Corinthians 16. Wade’s eyes scanned the text, not really sure where to start. It felt almost like rubbing a genie’s lamp, waiting to make a wish. So new to his walk with Jesus, he had no traditions to provide direction. If he did get one wish, it would be for Chaplain Bronson to be there, guiding him.

His gaze settled on verse 13: “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” That’s what he needed – to stand firm, be a man. Don’t let anyone doubt his abilities like that jaded Lance Corporal Connelly.

“What’cha reading there?”

Wade looked up, a little embarrassed, as a sailor approached. But remembering the verse’s admonition, he responded firmly, “The Bible.”

The sailor smiled and asked, “You up for a little discussion on it?”

Wade nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, definitely.”

The sailor, Jay Ringler, opened Wade’s New Testament to John 16:24 and had him read aloud: “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.”

Jay nodded thoughtfully as Wade listened intently about prayer. “One simple way to structure your prayers is using an acrostic called A.C.T.S.,” he said.

“ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. It provides a framework to help guide your time with the Lord.”

Adoration – “Start by adoring and praising God for who He is – His holiness, majesty, power, and love. Express your awe and reverence for the Creator. The Psalms are full of wonderful examples.”

Confession – “Next, come humbly before Him in confession. Acknowledge your sins, shortcomings, and need for His forgiveness and grace. Lay your heart bare, holding nothing back.”

Jay gave Wade an encouraging smile. “Don’t be afraid to get specific. The more open and honest you are, the more God can work in your life.”

Thanksgiving – “After that, enter into thanksgiving. Express gratitude for His countless blessings – life, relationships, provisions. An attitude of thankfulness helps reframe our perspective.”

Supplication – “Finally, bring your requests before God in supplication. Pour out your heart’s needs, burdens, and petitions. Remember that verse – ask and you will receive. He delights to hear from His children.”

Jay placed his hand on Wade’s shoulder. “Start simple, from the heart. Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication. Let ACTS be your guide as you begin this journey of walking with the Lord daily through prayer.”

Wade nodded slowly, letting the acronym’s meaning soak in… ACTS, a clear pathway to approach his Creator and cast his cares upon Him. With Jay’s help, he felt equipped to begin this new lifestyle of consistent, meaningful prayer.

Wade realized he had wished the chaplain was there to guide him, but God knew his needs even before he voiced them. His prayer, even though he labeled it a wish, was answered in the form of a young sailor named Jay.

After explaining the ACTS prayer model, Jay made Wade an offer. “Listen man, I know this is all new to you. Why don’t we meet up each night for the next 7 days before we reach Rinart 3? We can pray together and I can help you get into the habit.”

Wade’s eyes widened at the incredibly kind proposition. “You’d really do that? Spend time with me each evening?”

Jay clapped him on the shoulder. “Of course, brother. We’re all in this together, right? The Bible tells us to build each other up and walk alongside one another. I’m just trying to obey those instructions.”

A lump formed in Wade’s throat as gratitude washed over him. After so much hardship and loneliness, to have someone personally invest in his spiritual growth was almost overwhelming.

“Thank you, Jay. That would mean… more than I can say.” Wade stammered out, unable to fully express his appreciation.

“Don’t mention it,” Jay said humbly. “I’ll meet you here at 1900 every night. We can start building that prayer routine.”

Wade committed the details to memory, his heart bursting with newfound hope. Not only had God provided wisdom through the Scriptures, but also a caring mentor in Jay. This was going to be an important week.

As Jay headed off, Wade felt resolute determination settle over him. He would utilize every moment with Jay to lay a strong foundation of consistent prayer. Then, by the time they reached Rinart 3, he would be locked and loaded – armed with the spiritual vigor needed to pursue his dream.

Wade opened his New Testament once more, underlining the verses that had spoken to him that day. This book would be his source of truth and power from now on. With the Lord’s guidance, he would succeed. Chaplain Bronson’s words echoed in his mind: “Where there is darkness, the light of Christ must also abide.” Wade realized the light God brought into his life was Jay Ringler.