The year is 11,543. People have stretched their reach across the stars and a new era is coming as the technology to travel from one galaxy to another is about to be unveiled.

Planet Herilus is just one of thousands of colonized planets (not counting colonized moons, stations, or dwarf planets), but it is the capital of the Sharala Star Cluster and has been one of the top 5 supporters of the funding for the Galaxy Gate.

By now, the concept of aliens has been all but ruled out, although humanity has created its own aliens simply by gene splicing and micro evolution. Timothius is one such example. If you look at him, he's no human. White-furred cat with wings and a fluffy tail. But trace his ancestry back thousands of years and you'll find humans somewhere along the way.

Today, we focus on a group of people who are about to be caught up in the politics of the Galaxy Gate project one way or another...

Fascinated with the stars since childhood, and with the idea of alien life, Lucky wound up a little bit of an expert on the topic.  He's no astronaut to be sure, but he was selected to be among the first through the gate.  Why?  Just in case there really is alien intelligence, and "humanity" needs an ambassador.  But right now he's just looking for a bite to eat.

  Joe is a much more boring example of 'Human.  More of the same, but given a tune-up'.  Captain America he aint.  Captain America didn't have bioplastics layered over his vital organs.  "Remind me, was it a funding reason or design reason this project went for a gate instead of ship propulsion methods?"

Tim looks over to Joe and says, "Both. The size of the gate would make it not only costly, but incredibly time consuming to build a ship around the design in addition. Besides, with a gate, it's like giving the galaxy-jumping ability to all ships without having to retrofit them all. It's a new technology, ya know. Only tested on a small scale so far."

(Imagining Timothius pretty much like this: http://timothius.deviantart.co...q=timothius#/d1qhgu4 )

"Trouble is it's a one-way trip," Lucky points out, "Until the return gate is up and running on the other side.  Which hopefully will work on the first try.  Any suggestions on some lunch?  I'm starvin."

  "Well, at least you're optimistic about it Lucky.  My Father has apparently place a bet with Mom over if we all die from the transition or not.  They won't say who bet on what."

  Elsewhere...  "Whooo!  Crash and burn!  Papa needs five credits!"  Stay classy David.

A shuttle craft can be heard screaming across the sky only for the trio to see it is in low altitude and shooting at the ground while heading their direction! Tim meeps and runs for it, going for an alleyway to escape the open area.

Lucky dives for cover too!  Possibly winding up piled on top of the other kitty.

"What in the world?!  What's going on!?"

  Oh no, It's finally happened!  His father has taken action to ensure one of his cynical bets pays off!...  Wait, no.  Joe's father isn't that crazy.

  "Why oh why can't I throw ships with my brain?  Because that would be too easy Joe, duh.  Now, guiding a hand grenade in a high speed intercept course on the other hand?  That's doable.

  Except Joe doesn't have any on him...  "I've lost track of the times I've claimed I will go around heavily armed on a more permanent basis after danger when not."  He comments as he follows after, then clambers up a fire escape.

The ship does seem to slow down and hover and turns to face the alleyway. But another ship shows up and fires at the first ship. The rescue-ship hovers above the roof of the building Joe is climbing. A lady's voice can be heard over a megaphone. "Hop in!"

Tim doesn't argue and continues after Joe up the fire escape to make it to the roof so he too can board.

"Um, thanks!" Lucky calls up as he follows after, "Whoever you are."

Lucky idly wonders how he winds up in these situations as much as an enhanced guy like Joe.

  Joe alas, is unaware of the irony someone with heavily modified lineage comparing themselves to Joe.  Then again,  'We'd really like to be cat people, maybe fly' is somewhat less military sales pitch than 'Keep keep following orders after being stabbed in the liver! order now!'.

  "Thanks for the assist Angel" Sshhh, it's supposed to be a surprise Joe!  Though he sticks around at the fire escape to make sure Lucky and Tim make it up first.

Nice guess, but the dark blue text doesn't belong to Angel. Hers is purple. Once the three are aboard, the shuttle takes off. The trio can't see the cockpit just yet as they are in the boarding room. Tim falls to his butt from the sudden acceleration and says, "We supposed to sit tight or look for a place to buckle up?"

Cat people run.  Run like the wind.  This is how they survive in this crazy future.  We can neither confirm nor deny any other advantage to being a cat-boy.

Lucky holds on for dear life.

"Any idea what's with the random shooting shuttle?"

  Easy, they don't get as many funny looks if they decide Meow Mix makes a good snack.  Bam, advantage.

  "That may be for the best, until there are less things attempting murder."  This said as he goes to help Tim and Lucky strap in if they want it.  "And no, could be any number of reasons really.  Some people just hate science."

Tim thanks Joe for helping with buckling in.

Soon, the intercom has that same voice come over it saying, "We should be in the clear for now. It's safe to unbuckle."

Tim unbuckles and heads forwards to see who their mystery hero is. When the trio arrives at the cockpit, it's a little boy. Maverick.

Lucky of course accepts any help offered.  When the mystery boy is revealed to be a little boy, he blinks in surprise.

"Thanks for the help, sir," he says, wondering of the kid is a kid or an adult who just didn't hit puberty, "Care to set us down at the nearest authority station?  We should probably make a statement.  And maybe they'll have some doughnuts they'll be willing to share."