Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2017 01:21:04 -0400
From: Voyagers.Authors@gmail.com
Subject: Voyagers - Prologue

Disclaimer: This story is fictional. All characters were made up and any
similarities to those living or dead are just coincidental. This is
primarily a gay-romance story with teenage boys. While there will be sex,
but for the most part, it's about their true love of each other so if
that offends you, please discontinue reading. Also, if it is illegal for
you to read such material, you have been warned. Continual reading could
cause a knock at your door.

I hope you enjoy it and that the story draws you in wanting more. This
story is life aboard a starship manned only by boys, mainly 12-16, with a
few older. Their ship leaves Earth to explore deep space and returns
thirty years later. If you have any suggestions or concerns, don't
hesitate to email us at the addresses following the chapter. Thoughts and
suggestions are always welcomed and may or may not be implemented.
Concerns will be considered and addressed as much as possible. Flames
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C Copyright This story is a collaboration of three authors. The work is
being created by TrueFan, ZarekDragon and DouglasDD. Each
author retains a copyright. You may copy it for your own reading;
however, it may not be reproduced, uploaded, or copied in any way without
the written consent of all three authors.



Voyagers

Prologue

By TrueFan

(In collaboration with Zarek Dragon and DouglasDD)

The Year: 2120 The Place: Earth, Space Fleet Academy

It almost feels as if I were being called to the Principal's office. As I
walk, I'm going over in my head what I could have done to deserve being
ordered to report to someone as high ranking as a Fleet Admiral. Try as I
might, I am unable to figure it out.

Upon my arrival, I approach the Admiral's secretary to let her know I've
arrived, "Cadet David Bowman reporting as ordered."

"The admiral will be with you momentarily, Cadet. Take a seat, please."

The worst part of any summons is the interminable wait. What was only a
few minutes felt like hours until a man came from the inner office and
approached. Immediately, I stood and saluted and was about to give my
name when he spoke, "As you were, Cadet Bowman. I am Fleet Admiral Mirah,
please walk with me."

I followed him as he walked out a side door and into a lush forest. We
were walking down a path with tall trees on either side. We walked for
several minutes and the silence was starting to get to me when he finally
started talking.

"I can see the question on your face. Where did the forest come from?
Well, it's not really here. Everything you see is a hologram. We're
actually in a room that's about 50' square."

"Wow, I didn't know we had this kind of tech, Sir." I replied.

"Simple answer? Officially, we don't." The Admiral replied.

"Cadet, I'm sure you're wondering why you have been summoned. I will
explain and hopefully everything will make sense."

At the moment he stopped talking, we came to a clearing, in the middle
was a shelter. It was merely a roof structure held up by four corner
supports and two additional supports on either long side, equally spaced.
As we approached the shelter, I was able to see that it was set up as a
lounge, a place officers go to relax. There were food and beverage
stations, couches, chairs, tables, even a vid screen. The structure had
no people in it.

Admiral Mirah led me to a table adjacent to the food and beverage
dispensers and asked me to take a seat. He offered me a beverage and when
I declined he said, "Good, we'll both have Scotch."

This was a surprise, not only because I was only 17, but because academy
regulations prohibit the consumption of alcohol by any Cadet. I looked at
the man, "Sir, with all due respect, I am not permitted alcohol by
Academy regulations. One other thing, are the drinks holographic also?"

"The food and beverages are manufactured on request by our food
replication devices. All new technology." What he said next actually
upset me greatly. "Well Ensign, I guess it's good you're no longer
enrolled in the academy." Hearing that, I think I needed that drink.

He sat the drink in front of me which I immediately drained, the liquid
feeling warm as it went through my throat. He laughed before refilling my
glass and sitting. Emboldened by the alcohol, I inquired, "But Sir, why
have I been expelled? I was at the top of my class. I was just about to
graduate." That's when I realized he called me 'Ensign' instead of
'Cadet'.

"You've already graduated from the academy. We have a mission planned
that we want you to participate in. Over the next year, you will be
trained to command one of our new research and exploration vessels. Your
rank will increase at intervals as you complete your training. Now, let
me tell you about the mission."

I was processing what he had told me and was about to ask a question when
he continued, "Our planet has been exploring space for nearly 100 years.
We transport people and supplies to our colonies, we have units charged
with the protection of our planet and its colonies, but what we lack is a
deep space program. We intend to launch twenty deep space exploration
vessels going in different directions away from Earth. You will be in
command of one of those ships."

What he told me was a lot to take in. A year of training after five at
the academy and I will be in command of a vessel? In a year when the
mission is supposed to launch, I'll only be 18 years old. I would be the
youngest Captain in the fleet.

We sat in silence for a moment before I spoke, "Sir, I'll only be 18 in a
year. Aren't I too young to be in command of a vessel? I'm sure that most
of the crew will be older than I and I learned that psychologically,
people resent having to take orders from someone far younger than they
are."

"Firstly, let's dispense with protocol. For the duration of this
briefing, and at all times when we are in private, you may call me Bill.
What do your friends call you?"

"Well. Bill, my name is David, some call me Dave but my closest friends
call me Zip."

He chuckled and asked, "Where did that nickname come from?"

I blushed before saying, "When I first came to the academy, I was in such
a hurry all the time that I used to rush in everything I did. In so
doing, I used to forget to pull the zipper up on my uniform pants. My
friends called me 'Zip' as a way to remind me without necessarily drawing
attention to it and the nickname stuck."

He laughed and said, "I like that. So, Zip, in answer to your question,
one of the tasks you will have is to select your crew. The ship's
complement is 75 crew members. The ship only has 40 living spaces so most
of the crew will be sharing their space. The mission is slated to run 30
years. The crew you will select will be comprised of individuals who are
now 12 to 16 years of age so your correct recall of the psych aspect of
choosing a commander is correct."

"But would people that young have the training to be able to run a ship
of that size?"

"Most ship functions will be automated or handled by specialized robots.
Our estimation is that most of the ships will take a minimum of a year to
get to their first destinations. Any additional training required can be
done aboard ship. A pool of candidates has been selected and will train
intensively for a year. Realize, we have twenty ships to man so that pool
is nearly 3,000 young men. Notice I said men, not men and women. All of
the candidates for this mission are young men and most of them, like you,
are homosexual, but not all. Now, before you start getting defensive, for
this mission, being gay is a major advantage. You will be in deep space
for an extended period of time. Even with our faster than light
capability, there will be weeks or even months at a time when there will
be virtually nothing to do given the level of automation the ships
possess."

After a pause he stood to refill our drinks. I was thinking over what he
said. Most everyone on the ship is gay? Will I be able to bring Hal? Just
to get it out there, Henry Adam Louis Tietokone, Hal and I have been
virtually married for over a year. We were initially roommates, but after
a couple of months we'd told each other we were gay and we had mutual
attraction to each other.

When the Admiral returned he had a plate of sandwiches along with two
tall glasses of what appeared to be a fruit juice. He offered me a
sandwich, I realized that the sandwich was vegetarian. I took one and a
sip of the drink. The liquid was thick, sweet, and cold. I've never
tasted anything like it, I was about to ask when he started talking
again.

"So, Zip. I know this is a lot to absorb. Allow me to clear up one thing
I am sure is on your mind. Yes, your lover, Henry, will be on the ship
with you. His specialty of botany will be a major asset as all of the
fresh food you will eat on this mission will come from your own
hydroponic farm. Now, let's get down to the details."

We talked for several hours going over just about every aspect of the
mission. In the end he looked at me and asked, "So, can we count on you,
Zip?"

"Sir. I mean Bill. I am honored that you have selected me for this
mission. Yes, you can count on me."

"Good. We need to get back because there is a shuttle waiting to take you
to your training base. Henry should already be there waiting for you. I
have every confidence in you Zip. So, shall we go, Lieutenant Bowman?"

I was surprised. I'd only been an ensign for a couple of hours and now he
hands me lieutenant bars? At this rate I'll be Fleet Admiral in a week!
I have a lot to think about; I need to talk to Hal. We're going to be out
searching for alien races, making first contact. How cool is that?

Before we get into the story, let us introduce ourselves starting with
the Captain.

The Year: 2115 The Place: Earth, A small community in the Northern
Hemisphere

Ever since David could remember, he's wanted to go into space. From a
very young age, David would read everything he could, usually far above
what would be normal level for his age. He excelled in Calculus,
Trigonometry and Geometry, the sciences; he was an athletic child. It was
a certainty to himself he'd get into the Academy.

Right about the time he was to turn 12, he read about a new prep-school
being started at the Space Fleet Academy. David knew at that moment he
had to go there. He told his mother about it and she was excited for him.
That is, until she saw what the tuition was. She told him that there was
no way she could afford to send him.

David was inconsolable. He'd given up on going until one day when one of
his teachers called him to her desk. "David, you've been asked to go see
the Principal." David had no idea why he'd been summoned. He was usually
a good boy. Little did he know at that time that he would have much the
same question five years into the future.

He went to the office and told the secretary who he was and that he'd
been summoned. David waited patiently until he was escorted into Mr.
Albers' office. Sitting with the Principal was a man David had never seen
but was very intimidated by him. The man was wearing a uniform that when
David noticed the Space Fleet insignia on the man's collar, he became
very confused. 'Why would they want to talk to him?" His mother couldn't
afford to send him, he hadn't even filled out the applications.

"David, my name is Commander Marco Ramius and I represent the Space Fleet
Academy. I know this may seem scary to you, but, we've been told by a few
of your teachers that you have a keen interest in space and space travel,
is that correct?"

"Oh yes! It's one of the things I want to do most in my life," He said,
excitedly. His demeanor shifted almost instantaneously as he continued,
"but I'll never get to go; my mother can't afford to send me."

Ramius looked at the boy with a tender expression, "David, what would you
say if I told you that you could?" Almost as if his fears had never
manifested David looked up at the man, leapt into his arms and cried onto
the man's shoulder.

Three years later, David is in the middle of his tenure at the academy
found himself alone in his room; his previous roommate gone having washed
out.  He was about to go out to grab some dinner when his comms rang
indicating an incoming message. The message read, "Report on the double
to Lt. Commander Fries' office." Lt. Commander Fries was the
Officer-in-Charge of housing for the academy. David hoped he wasn't going
to be told to move again; it would be the third time in the past two
years.

As ordered he quickly made his way to the Commander's office. When he
knocked and was told to enter he opened the door and standing there was a
boy of about his age. He had brown hair and his eyes seemed like two
obsidian pools in the midst of a granite sea. His complexion was that of
tanned leather but the skin itself reminded David of the unblemished
perfection of undisturbed snow on a Winter's morning.

Totally oblivious to his surroundings it wasn't until he heard the
absolute symphony that was his laugh that David realized he'd been talked
to by his superior. "I'm sorry, Sir. I got a little distracted."

There it was again, that melodious sound. A sound that almost caused him
to fail for a second time in fewer minutes, but this time he heard what
was said, "Midshipman Bowman, let me introduce you to your new roommate,
Midshipman Henry Adam Louis Tietokone. Midshipman Tietokone, Midshipman
David Bowman."

In his heart he'd believed he was gay for a very long time; it wasn't
until he met Hal that he knew it. The problem was that he'd had no idea
if he was the only one.

Over the next year or so, the two became very good friends. There were
times when one or the other got an idea that there was more than just
friendship between them. It wasn't until after final grades had been
released after their next to last year at the Academy that they found out
for sure.

David and Hal walked over to the Student Union to review the final grades
for the year. David was used to seeing himself at or near the top of the
list, being at the top of his class two of the previous three years. The
two roommates stepped up and looked up at the lists, what they saw there
was a total surprise. What they saw was:

Rank    Name                    GPA

001     Bowman, D              4.00

001     Tietokone, H           4.00

003     Adams, R                3.99

The rest of the list didn't matter. The two looked at each other and
without even realizing it their lips came together. Both saw fireworks.
It wasn't until the two heard the applause behind them that they realized
what had happened.

They went back to their room and talked. Both admitted that there had
been an attraction from the moment they met but neither was sure that the
other had similar feelings. Needless to say, they spent that weekend
making up for lost time.

David's mother had passed away a year earlier and he had no other family.
Hal's parents took to David Bowman like he was their long lost son, and,
in fact, maybe he was in a sense. The relationship grew and they
professed their love for one another.

About a month prior to the end of the school year, Hal was summoned to
the offices of Admiral Mirah. What he found out there was beyond belief.
The worst part was, he was forbidden to tell David about it.

Two days later, Hal was sitting on pins and needles waiting for David to
return from his meeting with the Admiral. Not since that first night
together had they been so happy to be surprised.




[Author's Note: This work is a collaboration of 3 authors. We will be
posting chapters of this story on a weekly basis. When commenting, please
contact us at Voyagers.Authors@gmail.com.]