[ WP ] Giants casually stroll the universe , and the very best the rest of us can do is try to stay out from underfoot .

Outside the starboard window Seller watched the surface of the Jovian moon fly by. In the span of seconds he saw mountains sink into valleys, and valleys flatten out into the dried remnants of long forgotten oceans. The reddish surface of the moon glinted in his eye as he stood staring, lost in the dance of the gas giants satellite. From behind Seller the automatic doors slid open. Heels softly clicked against the metal floor and stopped several feet behind him. 
 
 `` We are in as stable an orbit as we're going to get. Any closer and Tonic at the helm says we'll paint the side of one of those mountains.'' The voice was female and Seller recognized it immediately. Yeoman Carol Fortson, or simply'Fort' as most of the crew had taken to calling her. Seller turned to face his Yeoman. She stood upright, shoulders back, and chin up, trying to appear as tall as her five foot physique would allow. 
 
 Seller gave the black haired woman a reassuring smile, `` I'm sure Tonic had a few more words than that.'' He said pleasantly. 
 
 Fortson shifted on her hips relaxing, `` I did n't stick around long enough to hear, but I'm almost certain,'That sunna-va-bitch captain better know what he's doin,' was tossed around a couple of times.'' She finished trying to emulate the hard Georgian accent of the helmsman. 
 
 `` He'll get over it. What's our perigee?'' Seller asked walking past Fortson. She turned and followed in kind. 
 
 `` 8,000 meters above the surface at our lowest, probably about 11,000 meters at apogee.'' She replied. 
 
 `` That's just shy of 5 miles, we'll be fine.'' Seller assured. `` The worst thing Tonic will have to worry about is a scratch or two... And I'm sure that will buff out.'' 
 
 Fortson chuckled behind him. The two strode down the hall of the ship and towards the stairs. They rose a flight to the deck labeled Combat Information Center and followed a yellow line along that floor that lead to the helm. However, before the two could pass through the automatic doors into the CIC, Carol stopped Seller. 
 
 `` Sir, I have some concerns moving forward.'' She said halting mid stride. Seller turned back to her. 
 
 `` Let's here them Yeoman.'' He probed. 
 
 `` I've been going over out payload and supplies for this mission. To accomplish what we're trying to do, we simply do n't have what it takes.'' 
 
 `` Go on.'' 
 
 `` Two THOR missiles and half a dozen salvos of kinetic missiles are n't enough to kill the one of these giants.'' A look of worry crossed her face. 
 
 Seller bit his tongue contemplating Fortson's concern. `` What do you know about these giants Carol?'' He asked after moment. 
 
 She looked at him confused, `` Just as much as you do sir, which is to say next to nothing.'' 
 
 `` Exactly.'' Seller replied, `` Listen Yeoman the goal here is n't to kill it, the Navy is just testing some theories.'' 
 
 `` Seems like an awfully dangerous way to test some theories.'' She put her hands on her hips. `` Why not send unmanned drones.'' 
 
 `` We've done that Yeoman. Drones never respond within a certain distance from the target. That's why they sent us. So the brass know they've got eyes to test, observe, and report.'' 
 
 `` But does n't it concern you how needlessly dangerous this is?'' 
 
 `` Absolutely, but I do n't question the brass. I just do what they say. After all they gave me one of their cool ships to fly around, I think I owe them this.'' When Seller finished Carol looked disappointed. So he took a deep breath and continued. 
 
 `` Carol, when we as a species achieved interstellar space flight we started to find these... Giants, all across the galaxy. Currently, we know next to nothing about them aside from the fact that they unflinchingly destroy whatever is in their path. We have no idea how many their are or how to stop them. If one decides to roll through Earth, or a colony, we'd be helpless to stop them. We ca n't live in fear like that. 
 
 `` We ca n't just leave something unknown, untouched. As a species we're designed to poke mysterious new objects with a stick and whether it bites us, explodes, or gives us food we have to discover it for ourselves. And yes that's led to a lot of people dying throughout the course of our history, but without that sacrifice, we'd still be in caves cowering from lighting. 
 
 `` So yea, we know nothing about these giants. Hell, it's probably their universe and we just live in it. We can sit in our cave and pray to old dead gods that they do n't step on us, but who wants to live like that? Do you? I do n't. So when the brass says go punch one these bastards in the face and see what happens you better believe some human either brave or stupid, strong or weak will go do it. They gave us the stick. Now we're going to find out what happens when we shove it right up its damned ass. Understand?'' 
 
 `` Yes sir.'' She said standing up as tall as she could. Determination replaced her concern in her eyes. 
 
 `` Good. Now report to your station, we have a schedule to adhere to.'' 
 
 She saluted and strode past Seller and into the helm. He watched her go silently hoping that the hope he inspired in his crew was n't misplaced by some suicidal fancy. 
 
 When Seller entered the helm his crew stood at attention. He saw Fortson already at her station. 
 
 `` Ease.'' He said simply walking to the center of the room. At the captain's terminal Seller punched a few keys in the holographic interface and brought the mission report to the forefront of his screen. 
 
 `` Tonic?'' He said calling out for a report. The helmsman turned in his pilot seat. 
 
 `` Approaching maximum velocity in five minutes. Keeping engines hot and ready for 
 burn.'' He replied professionally. Seller nodded and typed something into his terminal. 
 
 `` Narew?'' Seller said again asking for a report from his strategic officer. A dark skinned man in the corner turned and answered. 
 
 `` Gravitational slingshot shot should give us more speed than we need. Once on escape velocity from the gas giants gravitational hold we'll pick up the Giants sphere of influence. After our payload is away Tonic will initiate burn to adjust course for the La Grange point between the giant and Jovian planet, sir.'' 
 
 `` Remarkable.'' Tonic said once Narew had finished, `` Can you believe this thing is large enough for us to use its own gravity to escape? Boggles the mind.'' 
 
 `` Indeed it does'' Seller responded. `` All positions sound off.'' 
 
 `` Communications net looks good. Comm bouys are holding out signal.'' Communication officer Park said first. Followed by the dozen other positions in the helm. 
 
 The last to answer was Payload Control, `` Candles are lit and ready for the birthday cake.'' PC Cho said over the radio. 
 
 `` Who lights birthday candles before putting them on the cake?'' Tonic interjected snidely. 
 
 Seller ignoring him turned to Park at the comms, `` Officer Park, I am requesting the Comms.'' 
 
 `` All yours captain.'' Park replied pressings button at his terminal. A green light appeared on Seller's screen indicating that whatever he said next would be heard by the entire crew. Seller took a long breath and counted to ten in his head, than he began. 
 
 `` Crew of the Frigate Argo. In ten hours the moon we are currently orbiting will no longer exist and neither will the Jovian planet it watches over. A giant will have completely and utterly destroyed it. We are here to stop that from happening. 
 
 `` We know very little about these massive creatures that inhabit our galaxy, but if we are to move further as a species we absolutely must find out. We sit on the forefront of history. Success or failure today will determine the outcome of humanity hundreds of years down the line; outposts, colonies, Earth herself are in danger of these Titans. We need to find out if we can stop them or at the very least dissuade them. 
 
 `` The Navy seems to think we can accomplish this with a couple of nukes and big, bad missiles. I'm inclined to agree. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to take the Frigate Argo, fly directly at the bastard, and hit him with everything we've got and we're going to do it for science! Now let's go hunting. All non-essential crew strap in, we're in for a bumpy flight.'' 
 
 Seller pressed the button and ended his speech. 
 
 `` Thirty seconds till burn captain.'' Tonic said from his chair. 
 
 `` Nice speech.'' Fortson added. 
 
 `` Win or lose at least we'll be remembered in the history books.'' Narew stated flatly. 
 
 `` Fifteen seconds cap!'' Tonic interjected. 
 
 `` Here we go.'' Seller said finally, his eyes locked onto the forward screen. Around the horizon of the moon the giant came into view. The grotesque creature directly ahead paid the Frigate no mind as it floated through space. In its wake dust scattered out like the tail of a shuttlecock. Remnants of the previous meal for the beast. 
 
 `` Five... Four... Three... Two... Initiating burn!'' Tonic shouted. 
 
 The whole ship lurched forward and Seller braced himself for what was to come. 
 
 
 

