My Little Union Pacific: Big Boys are Magic

The platoon commanders left the room and sprinted towards the engine house. “If we jump there it will be a lot quicker,” said Commodore Vanderbilt,

“Yeah, but if we get spotted too soon, it might raise an alarm, and we don’t even know if they are peaceful,” replied Morgan.

“Yeah you’re right,” said Vanderbilt,

“Be thankful that they managed to get a signal and were able to figure out where they were so we don’t have to search half

the galaxy,” said Commander Houston with her Texas twang,

“That is very true,” replied Vanderbilt

“I hope this mission goes off without a hitch,” said Commodore Washington nervously,

“You worry too much sometimes Henry,” Fleet Admiral Amor said soothingly

“Yeah and besides at least we get to enjoy a long trip and put our trains through their paces,” Admiral Stowe said excitedly,

“Yeah, I can’t wait to test out the new systems on the Nautilus,” said Captain Nemo,

“My Silver Knight can beat your Nautilus any time,” Vanderbilt said proudly

“Except for the one time when it broke down,” added Noah smugly.

Everyone except Vanderbilt started laughing remembering the incident. He and Nemo where racing each other, but due to the abuse the Silver Knight receives on a daily basis due to Vanderbilt attacking an enemy ship without thinking,  one of the wheels on the Silver Knight came loose somehow and snapped at the axle, which then caused the traction rods to break, the wheel then fell off completely causing his train to grind to halt and it had to be towed by the Nautilus. “Man, why did he have to bring that up?” he thought fumingly.

Arriving at the engine house, they were pleased to see their trains were all set and ready to roll. Morgan sprinted up to his engine the Iron Buccaneer, “Hey old girl,” he said to his engine, the engine let out gentile breath of steam in response "She loves me," He said as he grabbed the handrails and hoisted himself into the cab and began prepping the engine for the trip. He leaned out the window and watched Commodore Vanderbilt mount his engine, Silver Knight; elsewhere in the house Admiral Stowe mounted her engine the Pocahontas,

Nemo settled into the seat of his engine, the Nautilus, he watched as Commodore Washington climbed aboard his engine, the Benjamin Franklin. Captain Greenbaum was settling into his seat on his majestic engine, the Emperor, while Fleet Admiral Amor climbed on to her locomotive, the bright red and orange La Fiebre del Oro which is Spanish for Gold Rush.

And last but not least, Commander Houston, who was climbing on to her Iron Beast, The Alamo. A metal whirring sound was heard along with an alarm as the hydraulic lifts the engines were parked on began to rise to the loading platforms,

“ATTENTION ALL CREW MEMBERS, YOU ARE NOW AUTHORIZED TO BOARD YOUR SPACE TRAINS! ENJOY YOUR TRIP!” an announcement said,

the crews gathered their equipment and began to climb on board their respective trains, once on board; the doors were shut and sealed, and in the tender of the Iron Buccaneer, the technicians were prepping the train for departure announcing it threw an intercom to the cab. “Atomic Boiler pressure is a go!” said one technician, Chief Petty Officer McHugh,

“Solar Valves are open,” said Petty Officer First Class Ganon,

“Main circuit is online,” said Lieutenant Hawkins,

“All systems are green Admiral Morgan, awaiting your command,” said the Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commander Ramius.

Meanwhile in the Gold Rush on Track One, Fleet Admiral Amor had just finished prepping her locomotive when she got the order for her and the rest of her group to couple, “Attention all trains! You are cleared for coupling!” she called threw the radio. She heard the satisfying sound of steam hissing as the engines eased backwards; they backed until they heard a unified “CLANK!” as the couplers crashed into each other. Once they were coupled to their trains, Amor did a radio check while waiting for the green light. “All trains check in!” she said through the radio,

“Iron Buccaneer checking in,”

“Silver Knight checking in,”

“Nautilus Checking in,”

“Pocahontas checking in,”

“Benjamin Franklin checking in,”

“The Emperor checking in,”

“The Alamo checking in,”

Just then the red light switched to yellow, the commanders grasped the Johnson Bars of their locomotives and heaved those forwards. The steam hissed as the regulators were positioning themselves, then loud voice came from the PA said in Spanish “TRES, DOS, UNO, VAMANOS!” the announcer cried, the light changed to green,

“FULL AHEAD NOW!” the commanders cried unanimously. "WAHH!" the whistles on the locomotives blared together, "DING DING DING!" the bells rang, the wheels slipped as the trains took off in the order of their track numbers, the Bethlehem Platoon left first, along with the Silent Night Platoon, The Moses Platoon was third, and the Jesus Platoon followed the Moses Platoon on Track Four, the Disciple Platoon was next with the Apostle Platoon following, the Gospel Platoon took off after them, the Jerusalem Platoon was the next and last to leave. The trains left the station and headed into a curve, and then the track headed straight for a giant ramp that would launch them into space. The trains slowly picked up speed until the wheels came in contact with a series of magnetic launchers. The trains had been modified in order to launch them faster should something happen and they need to be scrambled.

The operator watched as the trains entered the launchers, she quickly pressed a button to notify the crews to buckle up. The light then turned green telling her they had been buckled. “Good luck and God Bless,” she said, she turned to a big red button, and she gave a smile as she gently put her finger on the button, gently pressing it, making it glow red.

The crews were jerked back while their trains were flung towards the ramp at a high rate of speed. The trains screamed straight up their ramps and were soon in the stratosphere. They continued on a mighty clip to the thermosphere. With nothing in front of them Admiral Amor decided it was good time to test the weapons. “All Trains commence weapon test!” she barked, the trains then fired their laser cannons and phasers, she smiled, satisfied, “Cease Fire!” she said. The trains continued to travel towards their destination.