Deep in the far reaches of space the Space Station Mirada loomed over the planet below. Ceti Alpha V to be exact. It wasn’t much of a colony below, just a small town and a few stores; it was more of an outpost than anything, a stopping point on the three-month trip from Earth to Tarsus Prime and back. The worst of it was, it was a million miles from nowhere.
    Most of the crew was just waking up to start their morning shifts. The majority of the command crew was already up and on the bridge, but the new rookie security officers were just stumbling out of their quarters.
    That is, all except Ensign Kevin Navets, a new rookie security officer and a crack shot with the phoenix class fusion pistol. He was already used to the difference of time on the station and Earth. That was mainly because he had already been on his observance assignment, the on every rookie took before commission, on board the station. Rwing, as Kevin was most known by the rest of the crew because of his love for the Redwings Hockey team back on Earth, was in his full security armor, which of course was red and white. He strapped on his pistol and headed for the bridge.
    Rwing usually wasn’t up this early, but he had to prepare quarters for the incoming Elerian delegation. Since Rwing was the only one save Captain "Peppyhare" McCrannen who knew anything about their lifestyle. Normally the cyborg security chief Chanlin would take care of this, but he was on special assignment until 1500 hours, so Rwing was stuck with the job.
    As he headed for the habitat ring his communicator crackled, " Ensign Navets."
    "Yes sir?" The voice was Captain McCrannen.
    "How are the quarters coming?"
    "I was just getting started."
    "Better hurry up, I just got word that the Elerian Delegation is due an hour ahead of schedule, and considering their prince is part of that delegation, I wouldn’t want them to be uncomfortable."
    "Yes sir! Oh, one thing sir..."
    "Yes."
    "How did you get the nickname Peppyhare?"
    "It’s a long story Ensign, maybe I’ll tell you at a better time."
    "OK sir." Just as Rwing finished his statement a loud high-pitched whine sounded across every communicator. Rwing let out a cry and pulled off his helmet. He pulled out his hand held communicator, " What the heck was that?"
    "Computer says is was a massive spatial flux. Something we don’t get very often, but they’re totally harmless save what you just heard."
    "Whew, that's loud."
    "Ensign the quarters."
    "Oh, right sir." Being nineteen Rwing often got distracted, but was getting better at not being bothered.
    The habitat ring was quite a walk from Rwing’s quarters. He would have preferred a jeep transport, but they weren't allowed in the main corridors. The actual ring was around the outermost section of a series of rings that consisted of quarters, shops, and various other places of interest, the mess hall included. This ring however, was one of the few with windows that overlooked the planet below. It was a beautiful sight of the southern continent and a few major oceans. The planet resembled
    Earth but had more land than it did water. Rwing reached the spot that had been reserved for the prince and opened the door. Inside the room was plush with a red velvet rug, a small desk, and a large couch. The room opened up past the couch to reveal a small entertainment room with a vid screen for watching television programs, a small Elerian game had been included, as well as a food replicator. On the left of the id screen a door opened into a bedroom, which consisted of a bed and a large trunk which the Elerian’s preferred over dressers.
    Rwing turned on the lights and set them to come on at a dimmer setting.
    He then proceeded to turn the humidity down to tolerable Elerian levels.
    That was all he really had to do, but the walk out to the habitat ring had taken longer than Rwing planned, so he ran to the docking ring so he wouldn’t miss the delegation arrival.
    Rwing was surprised to see the small ten by ten corridor empty. The round airlock doors were closed and the greeting party wasn’t even there yet. Just then the airlock hissed as the door outer door slid open.
    Rwing checked his uniform and dusted it off a little and prepared to greet the delegation. He couldn't help thinking why the greeting party wasn’t there, especially Captain McCrannen. He never missed this sort of thing. Suddenly a voice crackled across his communicator, " Ensign..." the voice was cut of by a sudden jolt and a loud explosion. The airlock door blew off it’s hinges and slammed into the opposite wall with a resounding clang that almost felt as though it were going to make him deaf. If that wasn’t the worst, Rwing was thrown off his feet and under a collapsing bulkhead. Although he was very fortunate, the bulkhead hid him from view from the repulsive creatures standing in the doorway.
    Rwing could hear weapon fire and several screams, and that was the last he heard before he passed out.