by F. E. Arliss
“Copy that, sir. Firing up engines,” she said. The first array caught and the airflow heat condenser fired up at once. “Heat condenser fired up and ready, sir,” Johanna said, a hint of relief evident in her voice. “Engines are a go.”
Johanna could feel the cruiser lifting off. Her gauges remained steady. She started a Hail Mary prayer out-loud to calm herself and Ensigns Taggart and Smith, who looked almost frozen with worry and fear.
She didn’t know that her voice was on the comms ship-wide. “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and in the hour of our death. Amen.” It seemed like an eternity that she repeated those words over and over.
Major Bergstrom’s voice echoed over the comms, “We’re through the hail layer and breaking atmosphere.” A cheer could be heard reverberating through the cruiser. “Ensign Van Heusen how are your gauges for the Sabatier array looking?” He questioned in her ear.
“They’re beginning to build, sir. By our calculations,” she glanced over at Taggart and Smith to see nodded confirmations, “we’ve got enough solar reserve to let the array build for another ninety minutes. That should keep us sailing and draw enough water for the return if we ration it for drinking only,” she replied, a smile breaking over her face, as she gave her teammates a thumbs-up sign.
“Good work, Ensign Van Heusen. If this plan of yours works, I’m giving you a medal,” Major Bergstrom said seriously.
“Well, thank you, sir, but I’ll only accept a promotion. Forget the medal,” she sassed back with a wink at Taggart and Smith. “My teammates want the medal, though,” she added, grinning.
Six weeks later a reeking crew disembarked from the oddly bristling hull of the cruiser. Colonel Reinegaard and Captain Sedgwick were there to meet them. Hugs were brief, as body odor was ripe. Katyia and Major Donji had also turned out, along with just about every Guardsman and Corpsman. It was a real fanfare. The first order of business was, however, showering!
After showers, food and a rest period, they all met in the debriefing room to go over the success of the mission. It had been a tremendous success. The planet was a good match for all the needs of a human population. While the hail ring presented a bit of a problem, it was clearly nothing that a little ingenuity couldn’t overcome.
Major Bergstrom beamed while Johanna was presented with her Lieutenant’s bars and a commendation. Ensigns Taggart and Smith received commendations as well. Everyone was ecstatic, and looking forward to a drink in the mess. The Colonel had broken out a keg of beer and several bottles of good champagne to toast the mission. Brass back at Orbit Guard Command were delirious with the news of a habitable planet.
This mission had been a feather in everyone’s cap.
Carlo was just glad to have Johanna back to himself for a while. He’d missed her while he’d had to let her figure out their engineering situation on her own.
Johann admitted that he’d been supportive and of great strength to her. He figured now might be the right time to pop the question.
That night, alone in his quarters, they lay on the bed, cuddled close. “Johanna,” he said slowly, trying to catch her eyes and still her wandering hands. “You now I love you, right? I want you to be more than assigned to my unit. Will you marry me?”
Her hands stilled, then tightened into fists, pulling a few very sensitive chest hairs in the process. He tried not to squirm. She looked up into his soft brown eyes, and said, “Of course, I’ll marry you! I love you!”
The night ended with a melting bucket of ice, warm champagne, and a far warmer bed.
Chapter Eighteen
Meet the Bergstroms
Carlo felt extremely uncomfortable. He was awaiting the arrival of his family on the landing platform at Orbit Guard Command on Earth. He was to be sworn in as a Colonel today. And soon after that, was marrying Johanna Van Heusen in a ‘cloud soul’ ceremony in Japan.
His family was invited to both events. Johanna’s family were already here and waiting for him with Johanna in their hotel suite. Carlo hadn’t seen his family for over six years. He kept in touch with his mom, but had a strained relationship with his father and brothers. He hoped they would at least be polite to Johanna.
A small shuttle set down on the platform and the engines powered down. Major Bergstrom nodded to the pilot to activate the ramp and in a few seconds the door to the shuttle whooshed open. His mother, Talia Bergstrom, appeared first. She ran down the ramp and clasped her large son in a hug. “I’m so glad to see you! I’ve missed you so much!” She exclaimed. “Congratulations on your promotion and I can’t wait to meet your fiancé!” She crowed. Well, at least his mom was not going to be a problem, Carlo thought, hugging her enthusiastically and whirling her around.
“I’m glad to see you too, mom,” he added with a grin and a peck to her cheek. Looking up from her happy face, he spotted his father, then stepped forward to offer him his hand. His father took it, smiling stiffly.
“Congratulations son. It looks like you have much to be thankful for,” his father added. At one time, that comment would have annoyed the hell out of Carlo. Today, he thought his father was right, and didn’t give a crap if he was being condescending or not.
“I really do, sir. I really do,” he affirmed with an affable grin.
He shook hands with his two brothers, and politely inquired after their families as Johanna had coached him. When that was done, he motioned for them to proceed him. Johanna had arranged for Major Donji to escort his family to the pinning ceremony and he left them in Hiro’s genial hands. At least Donji would know what to say to them. He was to be hosting the ‘cloud soul’ ceremony in a few days with his cousin Haruto, at the family compound in Japan. Hiro would know how to make his family comfortable, which was not something Carlo could say for himself.
Returning to their rooms, he found Johanna’s family gathered around his pressed, steamed and starched uniform, oohing and aahing over its impressiveness. This made him smile and relax. Here were people who understood him and loved him. He was indeed thankful.
An hour later, the ceremony was over, and a stunned Carlo had stumbled back to their suite to prepare for the trip to Japan. Haruto had sent two private jets. One for Carlo and Johanna and whomever they wanted to accompany them, and another for Hiro, Katyia and the rest of Carlo’s family.
Not only had he been promoted to Colonel, he had also been given command of the new colony on Uzi. He and Johanna would be going out to start the first human colony on an adaptable planet. It was a huge honor, and a huge challenge. It was going to be awesome! Though he was having a bit of trouble getting his head around all of it. Maybe they could start a vineyard of their own!
Clearly, it had not come as a surprise to Johanna, who had let out a celebratory whoop when it was announced. Her excitement had caused those who knew her to smile, and most if his family, though not his mother, to scowl.
He couldn’t wait! But first, he wanted to marry Johanna and have a nice honeymoon on the Donji compound in Japan, where the drinks were always flowing and the seafood was incomparable. He urged Johanna out of the hotel and herded his adopted family of Sophie and Pierre Roux, Precious Van Heusen and Joseph Abay, up the entry ramp of the jet and whirled his fist to show the pilot they were ready to depart.
He wanted to get there, get married, and then enjoy his honeymoon. He’d like to talk with his mother more and maybe make peace with his father and brothers. But nothing was going to stop him from having a wonderful wife and wonderful life. Maybe he could take his adopted family with him. He’d need help with the vineyard.
Johanna took all of his hurrying along, in good stride. All her family understood what was going on. Carlo felt uncomfortable with his own family and he was still in shock over all the good fortune and responsibility he was going to be taking on.
He wanted to get to the Donji compound so that the staff there could a
ct as a sort of buffer between him and any outside distractions that he didn’t want. Then he could start coping with and processing all the changes.
She got it. Her family got it. She was lucky to have Carlo and she felt so happy about the future and was full of hope. When the ceremony and honeymoon was over, they’d go back to Frontier Station to prepare for the expedition to Uzi. She was going to take time to lay in the Observation Room and look back on the wonderful year and a half that had culminated in all of this.
For now, she was going to enjoy every minute and love Carlo and her family every second.
