Chapter 22

They entered an area where the walls and doors had a faux wood grain. It was clearly officers’ country. There was an officers’ mess with an automat serving their meals. The Captain had a wardroom that doubled as a workstation with bunk. The next room showed only two stars on the door, and they were both red. “Your quarters sir,” said Chief Gunnison.

Compared to the other spaces that he occupied in the past, this was lavish to Alan. There was a large work desk, a dining table for four, and a private bunk at the far end of the quarters. “You have a steward that will bring meals and drinks,” said the chief.

There was one luxury piece of furniture in the room, an old, overstuffed reclining chair that used to be bolted to the deck as captain’s chair on the bridge. “The crew heard how much you liked this chair so we placed it here for you. If you don’t like it, we can space it.”

“It’s perfect. Thank the crew for me chief.

Wherever Alan went, he was greeted by a terrified young spaceman who shouted, “Ten hut!” and Alan spent an hour saying, “As you were,” and “Thank you but Big Freda comes first. Get your work done and don’t let me get in your way.” He also asked every spaceman their names. “What’s your name, spaceman?”

“Petty officer third class Davidson, sir.”

“What’s your first name Petty Officer Davidson?”

“William sir.”

“Do you go by Bill?”

“Yes sir.”

“It’s good to meet you Bill. I’m Alan but the Navy won’t let us use first names.” He would give the spaceman a wink and say, “I don’t care what names we use, just as long as Big Freda is happy. If she’s not, it’s Admiral Fucking Scarlett.”

“Yes sir!” and suddenly Alan had a friend in the engineering department who wanted to keep Big Freda in even better shape. He did that throughout the ship, except for the bridge where his thunder ruled.

“Admiral on the bridge!” called the chief of the boat, and the entire bridge crew came to attention. Alan walked around the bridge, familiarizing himself with the equipment and controls on the bridge. The last time he was here, it looked like the basement of a crazed radio enthusiast. The bridge was still in a plexiglass bubble extending upward from the spine of the ship. Why it was designed like that Alan will never know, but it was cool, and a great reminder of what you were doing.

“As you were.” He turned to Captain Kayla Huddleson and said, “Officers call for all officers in the air crew ready room in ten minutes.” He turned to the chief of the boat and said, “That goes for you also chief.” And he floated out the door.

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NSS Naha, February 27, 2162 Earth-Mars Shipping Lanes

In the gymnasium, Captain Pandora Vermillion was playing with her children. The captains of ancient sailing vessels used to bring their families aboard on long journeys. Why not now? When she first brought the kids aboard the Naha, she was having a nervous meltdown, but now that she knows Alan was alive and would join up with them soon, she was learning to relax.