Navagational officers log, 05 Oct 2154

[Ensign Jake Walker 0]

He was a robust looking deer, big rack of antlers and all. The breed was fairly common for the West Virginia mountains, so young Jake knew what he was looking for. At 13 he was on his first fall ritual with his father. The elder Walker was 100 meters behind Jake, watching him through his visual enhancement unit. Jake had no such advantage, as all his father allowed him to carry was a 100+ year old rifle. The rifle had a purpose. For generations that was the rifle used on a Walker first hunt. It was outdated by modern standards as the projectiles were not "smart" weapons that when locked on a target found it's way home every time, but "dumb" because essentially they were a hunk of metal fired by igniting gunpower contained in a shell.

 

Primitive yes, but this hunt was not about feeding the clan, it was about teaching a Walker child about the environment. With no tech to distract him or her, a young Walker would absorb the surroundings. The Walker mentality was that the hills were a part of you. Water was blood, rivers were arteries, and forests were the heart. According to the Walkers, a young man learns more about life being alone in the woods that he will in a classroom. Life was not taught as much as it was absorbed.

 

Jake heard his target before he saw it. When he saw it he slowly raised his Winchester and sighted his target, adjusting for estimated range and wind. When the target turned to show his full profile he aimed in the area of the deer where his heart was. He let out a breath and slowly pulled back the trigger. The trigger released the hammer, which moved forward until it struck the rear of the shell. The primer in the shell let off a small explosive, which ignited the primary propellant. The expanding ignited gas moved toward the path of least resistance, which moved the bullet through the barrel of the Winchester. It took only a fraction of a second for the bullet to travel the 50 meters to target.

 

Snake though about this as he targeted his first prey on Acamar. Land was land, dirt was dirt, and Snake was a Walker. As he raised his Starfleet issue M-511 sniper rifle, he thought back to his days as a youth. Spending time with his Father, who still to this day was the greatest man he had ever known. Strong, wise, and filled with Faith, he taught his son that the bounty of the galaxy was a blessing upon it's people. Animals were food, but they were to be highly respected, for they are a vital part of the circle of life. He activated his scope, locating the animals heart and locked it into the memory of the bullet. Seconds after he fired he said his prayer of thanksgiving for the bounty that would feed his cremates.

 

After arriving back at the base, he dropped the large animal next to a pile of fruits (apples maybe?). He got a couple odd looks, but he understood their feelings. Humanity, as the Walkers saw it, were being coddled by their advancements. The more they lived with their tech, the more it assimilated them. What Walkers always understood was quality of life. That the measure of being a Human was in no way calculated by the technology. He had heard all the slurs, like "Hilljack", Hillbilly", "Redneck" and a few more colorful. But the Walkers wore thier titles with distinction because they understood that it was their love of the land that set them apart.