Chapter 50

My granddad's granddad fought his war because the Nazis were the bad guys, simple as that. I'm fighting this one because I'm hungry.

-Unknown American soldier stationed on the front lines of the Starving War, August 1st, 2067 CE

PETER HAD BEEN aboard many ships, but none so impressive as the Javelin. As soon as the dropship doors opened to the larger ship's docking bay, Peter inhaled the smell of a state-of-the-art war machine; fresh oil, clean air filters, and a small hint of pine. One-pilot fighter craft occupied most of the bay, engineers and technicians swarming around their delicate hulls like clouds of worker bees. Off-duty marines exited the hold of another dropship, their dark blue armor donned sloppily, their assault rifles slung casually over their shoulders, joking and laughing as they boarded a tram that led further into the ship.