| Genesis 2 p. 3 |
| They talked until late in the night—about old memories, inside jokes, instructors that they hated and loved. They planned their first reunion after Mansel came back from his seven year “torture” as Jim Brungess had described it. Mansel asked him not to remind that he’d be locked in a brand spanking new starship stuck doing exploration. “Something tells me that you’re going to encounter more than you expect,” Eric Meelan said over a sip of his iced tea. “What makes you think that, Eric?” Mansel asked, finishing off his third Root Beer. Meelan merely shrugged and snatched his empty can from him. “I don’t know,” he said. “I just got that feeling that we’re all going to get into more than we imagine.” He looked at Mansel, then Maki. “Especially you two. Jim’s got a pretty cushy job.” “Cushy?” Jim Brungess said, about to hop off the couch until he remembered that Maki was still resting her head on his lap. “Just because I’m a liaison doesn’t mean I have a cushy job. I have to work both sides—the EDF and the UNSF. It’ s my job to make sure you guys stay in understanding with each other.” “Whatever,” said Meelan. “Anyway, Darryl, you need help packing up?” Mansel shook his head. “Nah, I already got that done. The only thing I have left is to pack is the sheets on my bed.” He glanced at his chrono. “Speaking of which, it’s getting kinda late, and I gotta be up early tomorrow, so…” Meelan nodded. “Right. I guess this is the last time we’ll see each other together like this for a while, then.” He extended his hand to Mansel. “Good luck.” Mansel accepted it. “You too, Eric.” He looked over the rest of the crew. “All of you.” They all said their good-byes, wondering when each would see one of the others again, since all were in different professions. They were sure that they’d see each other again, it was just a matter of time. *** In the morning, Mansel awoke to Jim’s alarm clock, which happened to be ten minutes early. He stuffed his sheets into his most available suitcase, and shook Jim. “Hey, Jim, it’s about time for me to go.” Jim blinked his eyes a few times and rolled over in the bed to take a final look at his best friend. “Alright guy, don’t let the stars be too mean to ya.” Mansel smiled. “I won’t. Don’t get too comfortable with your job either.” Brungess yawned and nodded. “No problem, D. Take it easy, guy.” “Peace, guy.” With that, Mansel took one last look around his room, picked up his suitcases and left to head for a new life among the stars. *** “Captain on the bridge,” Talaj announced again as Mansel stepped onto the bridge of his ship for a second time. “At ease,” said Mansel, more comfortably this time, as he was sure that his bridge crew noticed. Mansel looked over at Vaughn, who was sitting in the Executive Officer’s chair, next to Mansel’s own command chair. “Is everybody here?” “You’re the last, sir. We sat and watched Captain Hicks’ ship leave just a few moments ago.” “Is that right?” Mansel asked, coming to a halt behind his own chair. “Has Space Control given us the go-ahead yet?” “Yes, they have, sir,” Ensign Hardy announced from her post behind and slightly to the right of Mansel. “Well,” said Mansel, “I guess I should address the crew.” “That would be wise,” said Lieutenant Commander Lamb from his seat at Tactical. Mansel ignored him. Pressing the ship-wide intercom on the panel underneath his armrest, he cleared his throat and thought about his words before speaking. “Today is the day we launch into a new era,” he began, looking at the members of his bridge crew. “This is our era: the era of Explorer. Seven years we’ll be exploring the galaxies that the UNSF has within its boundaries, mapping new star systems and hopefully encountering new species that will be willing to join our cause. Needless to say, I expect one hundred percent effort out of each and every one of you, as you will receive my one hundred percent. So good luck, fair weather, and remember…exploring is what we’re all about. Let’s make this one for the history books.” Mansel cut the ship-wide comm off, thinking about how lame that sounded. “Clear all moorings, Mr. Broadaway,” said Commander Vaughn as Mansel continued to lean against the back of his chair. “Moorings cleared, sir.” “Maneuvering thrusters.” “Maneuvering thrusters, aye.” Commander Vaughn looked up at Mansel. “Your call, sir.” |
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