Free Ep.#8 - "Celestia: CV-02" by Ryk Brown Page B

their friend’s, Mom, and Lee is at the hospital. I have plenty of time.”
    “I’m going to miss you all so much,” Marlene said as she kissed her daughter on the cheek.
    “We’re only an hour away, Mother,” Miri reminded her. “And you’ll have your own private shuttle on standby for you, remember? You’re the wife of the president.”
    Marlene rolled her eyes. “Then I guess I’d better be going,” she said, pulling herself together. “Somebody has to turn that dreary place they call a residence into an acceptable home.”
    Miri watched as her mother headed for the door.
    “I’ll get changed,” her mother called as she left the room.
    Miri sighed and took a seat in the large armchair in front of the window. She, too, had sat on her father’s knee as he sat in that very same chair, as had all of her brothers and sisters at one time or another. She, too, could remember Nathan squirming from his father’s grasp as he struggled to get down. He had always been so rambunctious, so independent. A tear welled up in her eye as she thought of her younger brother. Oh, Nathan , she thought. Why did you have to join the fleet?
    * * *

    Captain Yahi sat in his command chair as he sipped his cup of tea. All about him, the bridge of the UES Reliant bustled with activity as more than a dozen officers and technicians went about the daily routine of running the massive sub-light warship. They had been on patrol for nearly two years now, and his crew was as practiced and efficient as any crew in the fleet, but they were also homesick. They needed to go back to Earth, to see the clear, blue skies of their homeworld, to see their loved ones, to sleep in their own beds, and to wear civilian clothes. They needed to be reminded of what it was they were protecting.
    “Latest communiqué from Fleet,” Commander Denker, the Reliant’s executive officer, said as he handed the data pad to his captain.
    Captain Yahi set down his tea on the arm of his command chair and placed his left thumb against the data pad’s fingerprint reader. The data pad’s screen lit up and displayed the message. “The Intrepid will be getting under way sometime tomorrow morning. We should be clear to return to Earth within twenty-four hours of her departure from the OAP.”
    “It’s about time,” Commander Denker said. “If we don’t get back to port soon, you’re going to run out of tea.”
    “Well, we can’t have that, now can we?” The captain smiled as he handed the data pad back to his XO and picked up his teacup once more.
    “Flight reports delta patrol is away,” the tactical officer, Lieutenant Calloway, reported.
    “What’s the latest from the FTL recon ships?” Captain Yahi asked the lieutenant as he took another sip.
    “Last feed was three hours ago, sir. All recon points except for Three and Six show no contacts.”
    “What’s with Three and Six?” the captain wondered.
    “Last word from Fleet said Three was overdue,” Commander Denker added.
    “How overdue?” Captain Yahi asked, the slightest concern showing on his face.
    “This message was sent an hour ago, so Six still isn’t due for another hour,” Commander Denker said. “But Recon Three is nearly an hour and a half past her check-in window by now.”
    “Let’s keep our long-range sensor array pointed at Three’s territory until Fleet hears from her, just in case,” Captain Yahi said.
    “Hunch?” the commander asked, noticing his captain’s slight change of expression.
    “Just caution,” the captain said as he sipped his tea again. “We’re two days from port. Not a good time for surprises.”

    * * *

    Synda Conklin plodded up the last few stairs of her apartment building, her bag slung over her shoulder, tired after a long shift at a job she detested. She could still smell the stench of alcohol and tobacco on her clothing as she made her way down the hallway to her door.
    “I’m home!” Synda announced as she entered the apartment and closed