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Even during the off hours of the late night, the hangar bays of the Saratoga are a very busy place. Currently, the ISSCV bays are handling the influx of military, political and scientific VIP's. There is a virtual sphere of fighters providing perimeter security as the large rectangular ships ferry their cargo in and then return to their point of origin. Maintaining this level of security requires fighter ships to be deploying and returning continuously.

Captain Nathan West is in the O-room, or Orientation room, which overlooks the flight deck of bay twelve. His Angels have been home for a little less than a half hour. Their last six hours of sentry duty was tense but uneventful. None of the high command knows whether this meeting is truly being held in secret or if the Chigs are going to suddenly appear on the fringes of the Hyperion system like they've done countless times since Earth's fall. There doesn't even have to be a leak in security, a random Chig patrol could simply fly through and spell similar disaster.

Currently, he is scrutinizing the maintenance logs and reports of the squadron's Hammerheads. Only recently had his ships received the new modifications that were in field testing with other units. Fleet engineers had been able to modify atmospheric ram scoops to work in the near vacuum of space and these had been built into the engines of the Hammerheads. By doing so, they were able to cut off the growing problem of an He-3 fuel shortage. The technology was still incredibly new and was prone to breakdowns, though. On the sortie prior to the one they had just returned from, one of his second lieutenants had suffered a complete shutdown. He had been without power until an ISSCV had come to tow him back to the Saratoga.

Neither his flight crew chiefs nor himself had been able to single out a reason for the shutdown. It was an annoying problem that could jeopardize the safety of his pilots, but it was also taking up his down time. There were other, more pressing, matters that were beginning to come to his attention. So he has decided to assign the problem to one of his first lieutenants.

West had asked Lieutenant Cooper Hawkes to come to the O-room, after Hawkes had taken the opportunity to catch a shower and some food. In the past six months, Hawkes had taken the initiative and signed up for advanced classes in Engineering and Flight Dynamics, as well as Tactical Planning. His success, along with a developing ability to solve difficult problems, had earned him a promotion from second to first lieutenant. This would present a challenge to Hawkes, one that would help to further his experience.

He is just pouring over the duty schedule for the next few days when Colonel McQueen walks in. West acknowledges the CAG with a salute, which the Colonel returns. McQueen says, "At ease, Captain."

Nathan relaxes and takes in the Colonel's anxious demeanor. He asks, "What's going on, sir?"

McQueen takes a seat in a chair close to West. To Nathan, he looks like someone who has come face to face with an impossibility. The Colonel takes a breath, then says, "I've just come from Commodore Ross'. He told me that Vansen and Wang were found, alive, in a prison camp. They are both en route to the Saratoga as we speak, arriving in less than an hour and a half."

West has a sudden flash of memory.

He is sitting in the cockpit of an ISSCV, the Homeward Bound. Another ISSCV, carrying the survivors of the Vesta and Tellus colony attacks, including his long-time girlfriend Kylen Celina and piloted by Captain Shane Vansen and First Lieutenant Vanessa Damphousse, has just been severely damaged. The cockpit, with the Captain and Lieutenant, has been blown off, leaving the cabin with the colonists and Hawkes adrift in space. The cockpit has been caught by a nearby planet's gravity well and is starting to fall. West is preparing to make the pickup on his friends and comrades, when Shane's voice finally penetrates. "Nathan, take her home." She had just ordered him to let Vanessa and herself fall to their deaths. At that moment, all he knows is the pain of loss. He has to push on, if the rest of them are to survive. He does, but not without regret. The last words he hears Shane say before the cockpit descends into the atmosphere are, "Semper Fi....my friend."

His memory flashes forward.

Hawkes has disengaged the cargo bay of the colonists' ISSCV. He and Lieutenant Paul Wang are about to make the pickup on the colonists when enemy fire hits the Homeward Bound, trapping Wang in the cargo bay. Without talking to West, Wang disengages his cargo bay, so that they could retrieve the colonists. "Take 'em home," is all Paul says before disengaging and effectively cutting himself off from rescue. It was their mission to rescue the colonists regardless of the cost involved. After he has picked up the colonists and Hawkes has joined him in the cockpit, he looks to Hawkes. Cooper is wearing a look of complete shock, but to his credit as a Marine, he is still functioning. West will deal with the effects of this ordeal when he is finally alone, but that is later. With a last glance at Hawkes, he takes the ISSCV to full thrust, leaving Paul behind. The last thing they hear is Paul screaming at the Chigs as he shoots them down. Then there is only static as the final Chig fighter crashes into the floating cargo bay, killing Wang, presumably.

West mumbles, "Always faithful...", as he returns to the present.

Only a few moments have passed since McQueen told him the news. During that time McQueen has watched the Captain slip into a reverie and wonders if West's reaction is the same as his was.

West's eyes snap up to meet McQueen's, and McQueen can see the questions there. "The Commodore doesn't think Damphousse is aboard. We know none of the details with regards to the months prior to their rescue."

There is a pause. Neither man knows exactly what to say so they say nothing. They merely stare at one another. Finally, McQueen says, "When they arrive, there will be a short ceremony to welcome them all home. Some higher ups, an honor guard."

"Where are they landing on, sir?"

"The ceremony will be held in ISSCV landing bay six. Full dress. You'll let Hawkes know?", the Colonel asks as he rises from his chair.

West nods, "Yes, sir."

"Good," McQueen says as he is walking out the door.

Nathan is left sitting in the O-room, gazing out the windows overlooking the flight deck. The schedules and reports sit forgotten on the table in front of him.

continue with Reprisal, part 3

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