Return to Duty
© 2024 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by  rabbi-tom


Varan hugged her mother one last time before embracing her stepfather. “I wish I could stay longer,” the younger shlan said, “but I need to return to my ship.”

“We understand, v’chat,” Yerim said as he released her. “I only ask that you take care.”

“We both ask that,” Vorun said, slipping an arm around her husband’s waist. The two shared a smile before she added, “You should correspond with us more often, however.”

Varan laughed. “Not having to fight will give me plenty of time,” she said, and with a final embrace, she turned and walked to her rented jumpcar. The door closed after she climbed in, and when she switched the vehicle on it immediately accessed the local net, displaying traffic and weather conditions and suggesting the optimum route to Chadan’s spaceport. Varan accepted the suggestion, and the car rose on artigrav.

She waved, and her parents waved back, before the jumpcar pivoted and moved off.


***


The trip to the nearest Fleet base was uneventful, as was the connecting flight to J’Shavar Base. The closer she got to her cabin aboard Bōank, the happier she felt, and she took the time to think about that. When she was homesick, she felt better the closer she got to her home; with her homesickness sated, she felt better the closer she got to her ship. One of life’s many mysteries.

Her ship.

She still felt both daunted and exhilarated about that, despite proving herself a capable commander.

The transport docked at the base, and she accepted a ride from a shuttle headed to the cruiser’s dock. She smiled as the cruiser came into view.

Her Command-Second was waiting for her as the lock cycled open. He was in the standard gray working uniform, like she was, and he saluted, left hand reaching across to touch his right shoulder to display his rank. “Gartabin, welcome aboard,” he said.

Varan returned the salute. “Thank you, Subcaptain. Is everything well?” she asked as they started walking. She had her traveling case in her right hand.

“Very well, Captain,” he replied. “Admiral k’Jan has scheduled an exercise for five days from now. Plans should be uploaded to your padd by now, and are available in your quarters.”

“Thank you. Ernnh, an exercise,” Varan mused. “Maintaining our edge is important, as we may be redeployed or rotated to relieve another unit.” Her tail swished. “Aka, we shall see,” she said as they reached her quarters. “I will be in Command after I have had time to bathe and change my uniform. Tell the department heads that I will want a staff meeting before lastmeal.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” and he walked away as she went inside, the door closing behind her.

Varan opened her padd and read the exercise plans as an octet of small drones trimmed her fur back to military standard, and after they had retreated she stepped into the shower, taking the padd with her. By the time her fur was dry, she had read it through twice.

The padd chimed as she shouldered into a singlet. “Yes?”

“Captain, the Admiral is aboard.”

“She is?” Varan began getting into her jumpsuit.

“Yes. She is headed to your quarters.”

“Thank you, Subcaptain.” She had finished closing her jumpsuit and had donned her boots when the door’s annunicator chimed.

“Zogat, Frelen k’ – “ Her voice trailed off as the door slid completely open.

Vesan k’Daridh stood before her, in full uniform. “Zogat, Gartabin,” and the vir brought her left hand and arm up in salute, displaying the two silver circles of her rank.

Varan caught herself in time to stop her reflexively hugging the Admiral-second, and she saluted. “Frelen-min k’Daridh,” she said crisply. “I am very pleased to see you. Welcome.”

Vesan smiled as she dropped the salute. “Thank you, Captain. I took the liberty of asking your Command-Second to give us some privacy.” She moved toward the open doorway, and Varan gave ground until the door closed.

Only then did they embrace, their tails coiling around each other.