Tales From The Triple Suns (Chapter Six)

1

Six transports sat on the expansive tarmac, ready to lift off for a new home.  I walked by one, amazed at the size of it…I’d been on ocean liners that weren’t as big!  Four of the huge ships would carry nothing but equipment, while the other two would transport the ‘pioneers’ to the planet.  There were one hundred rooms on each ship, and over three hundred people making the journey.2

I had asked why so few were going, since most colonization projects consisted of around five hundred settlers.  Craig explained that, even though it was a settlement, the main goal was agriculture.  More people meant fewer spaces to grow.   If the first year worked out, then he would recommend authorizing permanent open settlements, allowing more people to arrive.3

I double checked the information on my keypass, and went to the transport at the end of the row.  I walked up the small ramp, and went to find our room.  Since the ‘convoy’ would be following strict ‘settlement protocols’, it would take us nearly two weeks to get to the planet.  The transports had to stay out of regular shipping lanes, and follow routes specifically mapped out just for settlers.4

Craig had spent the past four days studying star charts, comparing recent activity from ‘unfriendly’ systems with any reports from previous convoys.  The charts confused the hell out of me, but he was able to correlate the information into something tangible.  Finally satisfied that things should be safe from attack, he gave the go ahead for the trip.5

In accordance to Mirandes tradition, the only people that would be present at the launch ceremony were the ones directly involved in the planning.  No public was allowed, but things were being broadcast for all to see on both planets.  I turned on the monitor in our room and sat on the bed.  It took me a few minutes to spot Craig among the crowd, and frowned when I noticed Marley hovering nearby.  Thankfully, she wasn’t coming with us, but her presence annoyed me anyway.  She laughed and touched Craig’s arm in a way that made me want to pound her into the tarmac.  Craig smiled faintly and said something to her before turning away.  Marley stared at his back, then walked away in a huff.  I smiled.6

Craig looked excited, but bored…nervous yet calm.  He took his place with the others as the brief ceremony began.  I was told it was going to be short, but even I was surprised at just how short it was.  Five minutes later, Craig and the others were walking off the stand and heading towards their respective transports.  Not everyone was coming, but everyone had last minutes checks to assure that everything went smoothly.7

I looked as the door opened and Craig walked in.  “Hey sexy lady,” he said with a smile.  He went to a small closet, and pulled out a change of clothes.  He changed quickly then sat beside me on the bed.  “Gotta go check out a few things below deck,” he said as he put boots on.  “Should leave in an hour or so.”  He straightened, leaned towards me, and gave me a kiss.  “Mmmm… I needed that.”   He kissed me again, then stood.  “Gotta go, love you.”  Then he left.8

I laughed and shook my head.  He was so full of energy that I doubted he would sleep at all tonight…which really didn’t bother me, since I knew we would be up anyway.9

~~~~~~~~~~10

As I sat on the observation deck, waiting for liftoff, I was battered by conflicting emotions.  Really, this was nothing new, since liftoffs always made me nervous, but this time I couldn’t help but dwell on them.  Here I was, a newlywed, off on some adventure.  If I weren’t so nervous, it would be amusing.  I was excited and scared, worried and calm, interested in what lay ahead, but worried that I would find it unsuitable for me.  Craig had promised that if I wanted to leave, we would, but he had put so much time and energy into this project that I couldn’t see myself asking him to give it up…even if I hated it there.  Besides, he was basically in charge, and it would not look good for him professionally if his own wife didn’t like it.  (I knew he wouldn’t care about that, but I did.)11

There was also the fact that liftoffs had a tendency to make me nauseous.  I hated the feeling the ships made as they made it towards the outer atmosphere…sort of like a freefall, but in reverse.  At any rate, it made me fell like I was going to be sick to my stomach.  It didn’t matter whether I was watching the sky, the ground, nothing at all, or had my eyes clenched tight…the feelings still came.12

I tried to take my mind off of things by watching the shadows play along the ground as the second of the three suns sat in the western sky.  Light reds, dark reds mingled with a rainbow of colors as the sun slowly slipped below the horizon.  I hadn’t asked how many suns shone on the newest place, but I hoped it was more than one.  13

The lights dimmed slightly as the announcement was made that we would be departing in less than one minute.  I took one last longing look at my home, trying to memorize the colors, shapes and look of the place I loved.  I sniffed as tears suddenly threatened to flow, and brushed my eyes furiously, slightly embarrassed.  14

I looked around the observation deck for Craig.  He had said he would try to be here for lift off, but I figured there would be far too much to occupy his attention.  I leaned back in my seat and sighed.  I hoped this wasn’t a harbinger of what was to come.  This project was important to Craig, and marked the first time he had been physically involved with setting up on planet.  He had lead planning teams before, but had never gone with them.  He worked very hard on this, and it did take up a lot of his time…I wondered (rather selfishly) if there would be time for me during the next year.   I also wondered what my part would be in this.  I mean, I wasn’t a farmer…had no real technical knowledge to contribute…hell, I never even liked camping!  I hoped I could find some use for myself…and be of some use to Craig while there.  Best I could offer…best that I knew how to do was to write about it. (oooohhhh…big demand there)  I put my head in my hands, wondering why I was so stupid to think I could actually do something like this.15

I took my hands away as the transport started to vibrate and pull away from the tarmac.  I watched the horizon as we slowly rose above it.  My stomach threatened to move into my throat, but I continued to stare as the landscape became unrecognizable below me.  The transports started to move to the opposite side of the planet so they could enter the predetermined routes.  I saw something out of the corner of my eye, and looked in awe as I finally got to see the entire third sun that graced my home planet.  It was beautiful, and something inside told me that we would deal with anything thrown at us.  Either that, or I was really getting nauseous and hallucinating.  Either way, this harbinger I could deal with.16

~~~~~~~~~~17

Six hours later, I sat in our room…alone.  I had already unpacked everything, even taking the time to do a little rearranging of the furnishings in the three small rooms.  The bathroom section was basically standard, with a shower, sink and toilet, while the living area held a couch, bed, table and chairs.  The kitchen consisted of a food producer, sink, and small cupboards.  I sat on the bed and read one of the books I had bought with me.  I had originally joked with Sindra that I wouldn’t have time to read, what with being a newlywed and all…but, boy, was I wrong.18

I was halfway through the eighth chapter when the door opened and Craig walked in.  He gave me a tired smile as he fell onto the bed beside me.  I bent down to give him a kiss, and smiled as he wrapped his arms around me to pull me closer.  His lips felt wonderful against mine, and I realize just how much I missed him today.  When the need for air drove us apart, I laid my head on his chest as he ran his fingers through my hair.19

“Sorry I wasn’t there for lift off,” he said and squeezed me tighter.  “Had to fix a little problem, and it took longer than I thought it would.”20

I lifted my head and looked into those amazing blue eyes.  “Everything okay?”  He nodded.  “What happened?”21

He shrugged lightly.  “Just some confusion in the chain of command…nothing really.” He laughed as I continued to stare at him.  “What?”22

“What happened?” I repeated.23

He sighed.  “The usual stuff…tub riders that don’t want to be under desk jockeys.”24

“And the translation…”25

Craig laughed again and kissed the tip of my nose.  “Sorry…transport crew that despises being under orders to follow orders from someone that did the planning.”  He paused.  “Had to set a few people straight on just who’s in charge.”  His eyes twinkled.26

“Set…straight…?”27

“Don’t mess with Army, baby.”  He laughed some more.  “Anyway, decided that a full and complete diagnostics of the entire ship's systems was needed, and it took a little longer than I thought it would.”28

“That’s kinda of mean, isn’t it?”29

“Not as mean as kicking the hell out of a few would have been.”  He kissed me again to silence any comment I may have had.  “Enough about that…how was your day?”30

“Same ‘ol, same ‘ol” I said with a shrug.  31

He watched me curiously, started to say something, then changed his mind.  “Okay.”  He knew there was more, but had decided not to push the subject.  He closed his eyes.  “Damn, I’m tired.”32

I smiled wickedly and climbed on top of his body.  His eyes flew open as I leaned over and kissed him.  “Tired, eh?”33

“Apparently not,” he whispered in a husky voice.  “Definitely not,” he said as his hands wrapped around my waist.34

~~~~~~~~~~35

beepbeepbeep beepbeepbeep beepbeepbeep  36

Craig grabbed blindly for the on-ship intercom.  “Yeah,” he asked sleepily when he finally found it.37

“Mr. Greybourne?” a voice asked.38

“Uh-huh.”  Craig sounded like he was still asleep.39

“We have a situation.  Could you come to the bridge.”40

Craig was immediately awake, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling his pants on.  “Be right there.”  He pushed the off button, slipped on his boots, and grabbed his shirt.  He turned to me.  “Probably nothing…go back to sleep.”  He put on his shirt while going out the door.  I rolled over as the door opened again.  “Changed my mind,” Craig said.  “Get dressed and meet me on the bridge.”41

I threw off the covers as the door closed again, and I was on the bridge in five minutes, looking out the front viewport with a shocked expression.42

Craig glanced up from a readout.  “Impressive, isn’t it.”  He motioned to a chair off to the side, and I sat down, not taking my eyes from the view.43

A multitude of colors spread out in front of us, swirling around in what looked like some cosmic dancing bonfire.  The deepest reds, brightest blues, and brilliant yellows moved in an almost hypnotic fashion. I had read about solar dust storms, but had never seen one up close before.44

The pilot looked up from a chart.  “It’s not on any of the charts, and they’re only about three months old.”45

Craig straightened to look at the storm.  “Okay…so…add it to the charts.  Any guesses how deep it is?”  The captain looked at him with slight suspicion.  “It’s too big to go around…it’ll put us back a few weeks.”46

“I wouldn’t recommend going through that,” the pilot said.47

“Yeah,” Craig sighed, “me either.”  He typed a few things into the computer and frowned.  “It’ll be seriously stretching our on-ship resources, but we could make the detour.”  He looked back at the storm.  “But if that thing shifts while we’re skimming the boundaries, we’ll be in deep…space dust.”48

“I need an order, sir,” the pilot said to the Captain, who in turn looked at Craig.  I couldn't be sure, but to me it looked like they were testing him.49

"Your call, Mr. Greybourne," the captain said.50

Craig looked at the readouts, then back at the dust storm.  He glanced at the pilot.  “How many years have you been transporting settlers?” Craig inquired.51

“Eighteen.”52

“Then you are authorized to use your best judgment in this situation.”53

The pilot smile.  “Aye, sir.”54

Craig took one last look at the storm and walked back to where I was sitting.  “Two questions,” I said.  “One, why am I here?”55

Craig blushed slightly.  “Well, uhh…I didn’t want to be preoccupied with worrying about you if it was something major.”56

I tried not to melt at the warmth in that statement.  “Second question…what kind of power cells do the on-ship services use, and are the ones in the domiciles compatible.”57

He blinked a few times as he stared at me.  “Continue,” was all he said.58

“I heard you mention that on-line services would be stretched with a detour, and I know that for space reasons and weight restrictions, that transports of this nature carry only what they need, plus a little for reserve…sort of like on-planet flights do.”  I paused as he smiled at me.  “So, what I was wondering… the power cell packs used to operate the prefab buildings when we get there…are they compatible with the on-ship systems.”59

“No.”60

“Oh,” I blushed.  Damn61

“But it’s an easy procedure to make them compatible.” He smiled at me warmly.  “Only problem is that will leave us short when we get there…and the earliest any replacements we could get would arrive in three weeks.”  He stopped.  “And so will we……my darling, you are brilliant.”  He turned and walked back to the other men on the deck.62

I watched as he explained the idea to them, and smiled when a few heads nodded in approval.  He came back, took my hand, and walked off the bridge.  “Back to bed…gonna start the power transfers once the other four ships catch up in a few hours.”  He slowed down, then stopped.  “How did you know that?”63

I smiled.  “The researcher in me likes to know all I can about what I’m about to do…so I researched past trips and technical things.”64

“I married a genius,” he bragged, “Damn I’m good.”65