Chapter 50

The next couple of work periods were spent preparing for our transit back to the Empire. Travelling with the Fleets were Amanda, Aramissa, Taisha, Tillan, my Mum and Dayyev, though they were all travelling on the Fury, the flagship of the 6^th Fleet, not in stasis on the Spitfire, like me. Also travelling back was Gramps Tivey on the Assault Carrier Felthorn.

As ever, Torun tried to get out of going into stasis though to no avail, even Flinn intended travelling back that way, handing over her duties to Healer Liun, who would keep an eye on things for her.

I personally was feeling on top of the world. The three days I’d spent back on Tafta when I hadn’t been working were spent with family and friends, especially with Tillan as our relationship deepened and blossomed. He did confirm that he intended (as did I) to make our partnership official by asking me to marry him, though intended to wait until I was back on Vreekoos so the whole family could party.

The Imperial Fleet’s destination was Vreekoos. This was mostly so Fleet and Ground Force could take part in victory parades throughout various districts on the planet. As well, all medal recipients were expected to turn up for a reception held by Amantil. This was making both Flinn and Torun a little nervous as they did not know what to expect and hoped they didn’t fluff things up with a breach of protocol.

“Don’t worry about it. Aunt Manny’s not obsessed with it,” I reassured the fretting Torun.

“Don’t you just love the way she drops her familiarity with the Empress into conversations?” Flinn added with a chuckle.

“Just don’t play frisbee with the royal diadem and you’ll be fine,” I replied with a slight snigger.

“I still can’t believe you did that,” Torun chuckled, relaxing a little.

“Hey, we didn’t know and it was Amanda who started it,” I laughed.

“I’m pretty sure she’d say differently,” Flinn added with a smile.

“Maybe...” I chuckled. “But you’ll never prove it as the whole thing is under Imperial seal.”

“Thought as much,” Flinn laughed. “Now, off to the stasis tanks, both of you.”

“On our way,” Torun replied with a sigh.

I awoke, as I had the last time, to an alarm going off next to my ear in my armour and swiftly sent the command via the AI to open the tank for me.

“Sleep well?” Healer Liun greeted me.

“Probably,” I chuckled. “Not too bored?”

“A bit, but the paperwork for the section is all cleared up and orders prepared to replace depleted stocks,” he chuckled.

“You were busy,” I nodded. “Flinn and Torun OK?”

“Flinn is awake and in the day room, Torun is next on my list.”

“I’ll let you get on with it,” I replied and headed for the Healer’s day room to greet my friend, despite it only seeming like a couple of rotations since I’d seen her.

We were soon joined by Torun who appeared to be unconsciously examining herself for missing bits and functions.

“Will you relax?” Flinn chided her when Torun reached for her wand.

“I just don’t trust it. Never have, never will,” she replied.

“AI, could you give me an update on my family and friends, please?” I asked.

“All are well and preparing to disembark to the surface with the Princess Royal. Tivey is currently being awoken,” the AI replied.

“Guess I’ll catch up to them on the surface,” I nodded.

“Good news is,” Flinn informed me. “We’ve all been granted three days leave whilst they sort out the ceremonial stuff.”

“Wow, that’s great,” I enthused.

“It is. Also, my husband is en-route so I’ll see him for the first time in ages,” a happy-looking Flinn replied.

“You’re invited to stay at mine, Torun. Pretty sure the kids will want to see you,” I added.

“You sure?” she asked.

“You have an open invite from my Dad, remember,” I chuckled.

“Oh yes, but I don’t like to impose.”

“You aren’t, so enjoy.”

“We’ll be staying at Hertoll Base, basically a transit camp, if comfy enough,” Flinn informed us. “The AIs will be sorting your various passes and instructions so take your armour.”

“Yeah, Gust had already sent me an info pack,” I replied.

“Surely we all can’t be housed on the planet?” Torun asked thoughtfully.

“We aren’t. Fleets doing a fly-by of the orbital stations, then four regiments stay here whilst the rest of the Fleet does other fly-bys and parades on the sector capitals,” Flinn explained.

“Why do I think Princess Amanda might have been involved in our staying here?” Torun giggled.

“Could have been,” I chuckled. “Though it could have been my Mum, Dad, Bro or just Aunt Manny being nice to me.”

I did notice that the AIs said nothing and figured Torun had pretty much got it right as they tended to correct you when you had it wrong.

The fly-by was spectacular in that the various Fleets created a rotating tube formation in very close proximity and passed either side of the brightly illuminated stations. All ships were using their ‘running lights’ as well as having their hulls illuminated by various means. The stations themselves were jam-packed with well-wishers and the AIs transmitted the roars of approval from the crowds to the ships.

The 467^th Regiment was currently assembled on the hangar deck, watching the scenes from several massive display cubes. Although we were in our armour, there was a festive mood as both food and drink were being consumed in quantity.

“Wow, isn’t it gorgeous!” Torun gushed as the display showed the massive Superdreadnoughts moving past the station we were in closest proximity to.

“Yeah, you’d almost think we’d won,” I chuckled.

“They’ll find them eventually, Kiria,” Flinn chided me.

“I know, just feels a little premature, is all.”

“Yeah, I kind of get you,” Torun agreed. “But let’s enjoy it for what it is.”

“OK, you’re right though. It is spectacular.”

“I know, but the best bit is going to be when we get there.”

Torun and I were going down to the planet in a shuttle, not a landing craft. This was due to us being debarked at Vreekoos Spaceport, not at one of the Ground Force bases scattered around the planet, which was where Flinn had learned her husband was waiting for her. We were getting some odd stares as we and a few other Vreekoosians from Ground Force were in full armour. It’s just easier to transport it that way without the various military back-ups we normally had around us. We did keep our helmets transparent and acquiesced to having more than a few tri-dee shots taken with civilians, most of whom had only seen anyone wearing armour in tri-dee films.

We were greeted at the Spaceport by some massive yells of ‘Kiria’ and ‘Torun’! Three human missiles darted through the crowds to greet us, followed at a distance by the rest of the family as well as a few friends.

“Hilli, Truna, Galh, it’s so good to see you,” I gasped out as we all simply group hugged.

“We missed you all so much,” Torun added, tears in her eyes.

“My girl!” came my Dad’s greeting as he reached me, also sweeping me up into a hug.

“Dad!” was all I could choke out as my emotions were suddenly running wild.

“I’ve been following your progress and sharing it with family and friends,” he went on. “We’re all so proud of you and they’re all coming to a venue tonight where you’re the main attraction,” he finished with a chuckle at my look of astonishment.

“But ... but I didn’t do that much!”

“Yeah right,” Hilli spoke up. “We saw you take those aliens down, leading from the front.”

“Just doing my job ... sort of,” I croaked out, still in shock at what they thought about me.

“Your Mum and Bro will be joining us later as will Tivey who’s on a later shuttle,” Dad added.

“OK.”

“We’re so proud of you Kiria,” Uncle Baltus greeted me. “The Guardians at the Armoury were cheering you on every inch of the way.”

“I ... I don’t know what to say...” I trailed off.

“Thank you is a good start,” Torun giggled, enjoying me being on the spot.

“Thank you, thank you all,” I said.

“That’s better,” Aunt Vilgra replied with a smile then a hug.

“You were headline news with your antics,” Aunt Cass greeted me.

“I’m embarrassed, I didn’t know,” I replied. “No Aunt Hiqua?”

“She’s meeting with Minno. She arrived earlier.”

“Ooh is her First Officer Kleevas here as well?” Torun asked, then introduced herself.

“Yes, he is. The AIs can get you in touch, he’s staying at my home,” Cass replied with a smile. “Apparently he was going to get in touch with you.”

“He can come tonight,” Dad interjected. “He’s more than welcome.”

“Invite accepted,” the AI announced.

“Thank you, Dave,” Torun replied and gave Dad a hug.

“You’re welcome,” Dad beamed. “Now, let’s get you home and out of that armour.”

It was good to be in civvies again, as opposed to military fatigues. When both of us were changed we emerged to find Mum and Dayyev had arrived, though were also getting a change of clothing. Torun and I just chatted to the kids, catching up with their lives and answering a few questions on what we’d been up to, though avoiding the occasional real horror of up-close fighting. My dad sat listening for the most part, though I could see in his eyes that he knew the parts we were both glossing over.

“So we won?” Truna asked.

“Not quite yet,” I replied. “A few aliens escaped and we’re hunting them down.”

“Will they come here?”

“I ... don’t know. I hope not.”

“Well, you’re here so we’d beat them again.” Galh said proudly.

“We would,” Torun replied. “But these are their tough guys, so we take them seriously.”

“Are they the ones you fought in the last fight you had?” Hilli asked.

I glanced at my Dad to see him nod slightly, indicating that Hilli at least had seen some of it.