Homecoming
09 May 2020Maggie Oz
Witchy Woman was not on Maia. What was left of her had been returned to The Indra, in HR1185 Roy had come to get me in Zhora, his Cutter, that is designed for showing the flag and showing off.
Post Commander Assia Jepson III (Third time's a charm?) escorted us to the spaceport as offered and we were able to leave Obsidian Orbital without fuss.
RM MacGovern carried me onboard and placed me in the First Class lounge for the single hop to HR1185.
"We should just go back to Baal, Maggie, have your ships sent back by the freighter" suggested Roy
"No Roy, I will fly out of this hell hole, I owe Al that much. I'm going home battered, not beaten" I replied, "I'm going to leave Witchy Woman here for when I return and go home in Tiny Dancer."
"Oh alright then, but at least take one of the lads with you as company, they can carry you from the spaceport when you get home if nothing else"
"Yes alright, perhaps another set of hands on board might be a good idea."
"It's legs that are in short supply" quipped Roy
I threw a cushion at him and pressed the comm link to the Marine Quarters
"Excuse me lads" I called and MacGovern opened the video feed
"Yes M'Lady?"
"I might be needing a little help on my trip home, would one of you care to accompany me? It's strictly voluntary, I'm not ordering you."
There was a pause
"I would M'lady but I dinna travel well on small ships, even a Cutter is a challenge fer m' spacelegs, hoo boot ye Kofi? " Macgovern asked of Nkante
"Yas I would be delighted," he said, smacking MacGovern in the back of the head
We landed on The Indra and Nkante carried me over to Witchy Woman. We launched and headed for the planet below, VERY carefully. With our hull at 10%, we couldn't afford any bumps and scrapes. The autodock was out so I brought her in on manual, completely misjudging the gravity and smacking a dune on the way in before sliding to a halt on the landing pad with the very last of my shields.
We entered the hanger and I authorised the ground crew to carry out the, extensive, repairs and left them to it, transferring my command to Tiny Dancer
With mixed feelings of joy and sadness, I set Aztlan as the destination in the jump computer and calculated a 14 jump course for home.
I used auto-launch, not really 100% settled into the controls just yet.
We boosted for orbit and before long the first jump destination was on the HUD. I engaged FSD and we entered "The Tunnel"
We emerged at our first refuel star, I made a complete bollocks of it and we were forced out of frameshift by the star's mass .... rookie error
Nkante said nothing as I frantically worked the controls to get us out of the heat zone while the FSD cooled down.
Next jump I stayed high but we swept out of the corona too early and I didn't get enough scoop to fill the tank, I had to turn about and make another run.
I was shaking and so annoyed with myself.
"Would you like a little music, M'lady?" asked Nkante from the second chair behind me
"Oh I'm so sorry Kofi, you must think me a dreadful pilot and please call me Maggie"
"You are doing so well Maggie, I have not known as smooth a ride" he lied.
His calming voice did help though and I managed to get myself back in the slot, more or less. I aligned on the next jump vector as Nkante took out a small Mbira and began to play a beautiful tune. The soulful sound was cathartic and I settled into the familiar routine of jump, scoop, align and jump this time without error, on time every time.
Before long we had Aztlan on the HUD as the next jump and then we were home. I set course for Tannhauser.
"We do not get to see space so much when we travel Maggie, we are usually in the troop quarters or locked into a drop pod, tank you so much for giving me a wonderful trip where I can see everyti'n"
"It's the least I can do Kofi, you, the CSM and MacGovern have helped me out so much over the last few days. If you ever want another flight, just give me a call"
"I shall"
We docked without incident and Kofi helped me home to where Pris and Monique had everything prepared to fuss over me while I convalesced.
He took his leave and returned to the Marine Barracks with my thanks.
I ushered Pris out with thanks, insisting I would be fine. She left but promised to return first thing in the morning for coffee.
"DAC?" I called to the house AI as I started to get undressed. The advanced medicines and healing agents that were administered on Obsidian Orbital had done an amazingly quick job. I was still very sore and battered but the intense pain was gone and all my wounds were closed and free of any threat of infection.
"Yes Madam" it responded
"Can you run me a warm bath, please?"
"Yes Madam" it replied in a surprisingly decisive tone.
I continued undressing
"Madam?" DAC came back
- I knew it -
"Yes DAC? "
"Please define warm, I have 7 differing points of reference for "warm" ranging from -260 degrees through to 10,000 degrees depending on the baseline"
"DAC, you know that I am a human yes? "
"Yes madam!" it said with a hint of triumph
"So you know that temperatures outside a fairly narrow range will kill me yes? "
"Oh .... yes madam" it sounded crestfallen
"OK well refine your search to the temperature ranges that won't actually kill me and see what you come up with hey?"
"Yes madam ... I have found a temperature range of between 30 and 33 degrees that is described as "warm" "
"Splendid! That will do nicely"
DAC was quiet ...... I could almost hear it thinking
"Madam?"
"Just pick a random integer in that range DAC, it really doesn't matter"
"Yes Madam" again sounding decisive
I stood before the mirror as the bath filled. The face that looked back was horrendous. Scars, splotchy seared skin, bags under my eyes. I looked every one of my 236 years.
- I need a rejuve. I'll get one when I get my leg replaced-
Minutes later I was sliding into a warm and luxurious bath.
I had put my own bath suds in, not wanting the 3-hour training course that asking the House Moron to do it would entail.
God, it's good to be home.