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Authors: Britt Ringel
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watched
the Slamball quarterfinals between the Anthe Scrappers and the Tetium
Tempests. Quite a crowd had gathered for the game and the room had taken on a
relaxed and jovial atmosphere. Crewmembers laughed and cheered as they
followed the game, which diverted their attention, at least momentarily, from
how far they were from home. While Heskan didn’t miss his “home,” he enjoyed
spending time with his crew and watching them interact.
They
really have bonded with each other ,
he thought as he looked around the room. Sitting not too far away was a
contingent of the operations section, Spacemen Cook, Diaz, Gables and Getney.
The group was teasing Damage Controlman Gables who, wearing her Tempests jersey,
was currently lamenting a Tetium turnover. On the other side of the room, Anelace’s weapons section was represented. Gunner’s Mate Second Class Pruette and three
spacemen from the LAZ weapons subsection were clearly pulling for the
Scrappers. As Heskan took in the atmosphere, he realized how protective he was
beginning to feel of his crew. Chances are we’ll never see any real danger
this far away from everyone , he comforted himself, but I don’t know how
I’d ever forgive myself if something happened to this little family.
Heskan’s
eyes moved from the wall screen to the door as Anelace’s weapons
officer, Lieutenant Vernay, entered the room and grabbed a snack. As she
smiled and nodded her way past the members of her duty section, the crowd
exploded into collective cheers and groans that brought Heskan’s attention back
to the game. He watched as a flanker from the Tempests snatched up the ball
and lithely avoided two defending Scrappers to score.
Barely
audible over the noise, Heskan heard Vernay’s voice, “May I join you, Captain?”
“Of
course, Stacy. Let me scoot over a bit and give you some room. I guess you
don’t need much.” Heskan slid his tray over to make some space for the
lieutenant.
Vernay
sat down gracefully and looked up at the screen. “There’s no better flanker
than Tony Campbell.”
Heskan
shook his head, “He’s good but what about Lace’s Julian Gonzalez? He broke
nearly every season record last year.”
Vernay
smiled, “Yes, but he has the best aggressor line in the league. It’s pretty
easy to run through holes as big as Ana. Campbell is much younger and earns
every meter he gets. Plus, Gonzalez got hurt two months ago.”
The
room erupted into cheers once more as Campbell again dodged two defenders and
then bowled over a final one to tie the game. Spaceman Gables was jumping up
and down in delight and even Heskan was impressed by the young flanker. “You
might be right, Stacy.” Vernay wiggled her eyebrows up and down as if to say “I
told you so,” and then laughed as she watched Gables’ victory dance. “She has
a lot to celebrate,” Vernay said loudly, trying to be heard over the ruckus.
“Who?”
Heskan asked as he watched the replay of Campbell’s magnificent run.
Vernay
pointed at Gables. “Denise. She found out she was accepted into the next
cycle for Officer Training School. So was Glen Jamison.” Vernay smiled even
wider. PO2 Jamison served in her section at the portside Number Two Laser position.
She had dedicated dozens of hours preparing and motivating him for the officer’s
qualifying tests and meticulously helped craft his application, and she was now
basking in the knowledge that she had helped open a door to a larger universe
for one of her own. Originally, Vernay had thought all the work had been for
nothing as Jamison had been a “non-select” for the last cycle. However, all
applications were automatically resubmitted for a second cycle and he had beaten
the odds and been accepted for the upcoming training class. The news had
reached them with the latest standata and meant that both spacemen would
probably have to hitch a ride with a freighter out of Skathi as the
the Slamball quarterfinals between the Anthe Scrappers and the Tetium
Tempests. Quite a crowd had gathered for the game and the room had taken on a
relaxed and jovial atmosphere. Crewmembers laughed and cheered as they
followed the game, which diverted their attention, at least momentarily, from
how far they were from home. While Heskan didn’t miss his “home,” he enjoyed
spending time with his crew and watching them interact.
They
really have bonded with each other ,
he thought as he looked around the room. Sitting not too far away was a
contingent of the operations section, Spacemen Cook, Diaz, Gables and Getney.
The group was teasing Damage Controlman Gables who, wearing her Tempests jersey,
was currently lamenting a Tetium turnover. On the other side of the room, Anelace’s weapons section was represented. Gunner’s Mate Second Class Pruette and three
spacemen from the LAZ weapons subsection were clearly pulling for the
Scrappers. As Heskan took in the atmosphere, he realized how protective he was
beginning to feel of his crew. Chances are we’ll never see any real danger
this far away from everyone , he comforted himself, but I don’t know how
I’d ever forgive myself if something happened to this little family.
Heskan’s
eyes moved from the wall screen to the door as Anelace’s weapons
officer, Lieutenant Vernay, entered the room and grabbed a snack. As she
smiled and nodded her way past the members of her duty section, the crowd
exploded into collective cheers and groans that brought Heskan’s attention back
to the game. He watched as a flanker from the Tempests snatched up the ball
and lithely avoided two defending Scrappers to score.
Barely
audible over the noise, Heskan heard Vernay’s voice, “May I join you, Captain?”
“Of
course, Stacy. Let me scoot over a bit and give you some room. I guess you
don’t need much.” Heskan slid his tray over to make some space for the
lieutenant.
Vernay
sat down gracefully and looked up at the screen. “There’s no better flanker
than Tony Campbell.”
Heskan
shook his head, “He’s good but what about Lace’s Julian Gonzalez? He broke
nearly every season record last year.”
Vernay
smiled, “Yes, but he has the best aggressor line in the league. It’s pretty
easy to run through holes as big as Ana. Campbell is much younger and earns
every meter he gets. Plus, Gonzalez got hurt two months ago.”
The
room erupted into cheers once more as Campbell again dodged two defenders and
then bowled over a final one to tie the game. Spaceman Gables was jumping up
and down in delight and even Heskan was impressed by the young flanker. “You
might be right, Stacy.” Vernay wiggled her eyebrows up and down as if to say “I
told you so,” and then laughed as she watched Gables’ victory dance. “She has
a lot to celebrate,” Vernay said loudly, trying to be heard over the ruckus.
“Who?”
Heskan asked as he watched the replay of Campbell’s magnificent run.
Vernay
pointed at Gables. “Denise. She found out she was accepted into the next
cycle for Officer Training School. So was Glen Jamison.” Vernay smiled even
wider. PO2 Jamison served in her section at the portside Number Two Laser position.
She had dedicated dozens of hours preparing and motivating him for the officer’s
qualifying tests and meticulously helped craft his application, and she was now
basking in the knowledge that she had helped open a door to a larger universe
for one of her own. Originally, Vernay had thought all the work had been for
nothing as Jamison had been a “non-select” for the last cycle. However, all
applications were automatically resubmitted for a second cycle and he had beaten
the odds and been accepted for the upcoming training class. The news had
reached them with the latest standata and meant that both spacemen would
probably have to hitch a ride with a freighter out of Skathi as the
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