The Captain's Table Pt II
17 May 2020Maggie Oz
I sat at my dresser ... in my undies.It was .... 17:00, very nearly time to dress.
The wonderful clothes that DAC had designed, had tailor made and delivered were even more beautiful than their pictures had suggested.
The stylist had fussed all afternoon and the result was truly stunning. I had never seen my hair so perfectly arranged, a lustrous shine to it. The gold and diamond threads wound through it glittered like stars. As a finishing touch, Pris had carefully picked the purest white Gardenia from her astoundingly prolific nursery. It made a striking contrast to my green dress, and its perfume was heady.
Although Generational Clones are not permitted to will the possessions from one life to the next, a little bit of a blind eye is turned to items of particular sentimental value, regardless of what their monetary value might be.
I only wear them on very special occasions. I opened the lacquer jewellery box that was on my dresser.
The first was a simple pair of 28th century green peridot earrings, a gift from Roy on my 2nd life 25th birthday.
The second was a Rado Timepiece and Databand, made of gold inlaid carbon fibre. Built by the watchmakers of Earth in the Switzerland region. It still runs on ancient clockwork technology. It has kept perfect time since the day I got it. It was a gift from my parents upon my graduation from Achenar U. I remember how proud my father was that day.
Third is an emerald pendant, set with Ngadandari Fire Opals and suspended on a Platinum/Osmium chain so thin it is barely visible. It was an 80th wedding anniversary gift from Peter.
Finally, a simple plaited leather band, made by my first child on his first day of school. It has 5 lettered cubes in the weave, that spell "Mummy".
"Just so people know who you are Mummy" he had said.
All four items mean more to me than anything I could ever possess.
I had asked RM MacGovern to go and meet James at the spacedock.
"Aye, be glad te', Jamie and I both play for the Navy Rugby team"
Pris and Monique were on hand to help me titivate and do the final inspection.
Pris adjusted a strap, then stood back and looked.
"You'll do," she said with a huge grin. Monique handed me my clutch, her starry eyes wide.
I heard the tube car arriving so walked to the front door, descending the front stairs just as James and MacGovern were getting out.
James looked up and froze, all agog. MacGovern elbowed him in the ribs and they laughed.
"You look magnificent Maggie," said James
"Thank you, James, you're most kind," I replied " Thank you, Jock"
"Yer welcome, M'lady," MacGovern replied "Now jus ye behave" he pointed and quipped to James as he left.
I looked at James and placed my hand on his chest, "My, what a handsome sailor boy you are," he blushed.
James was bedecked in "Mess Dress A" a standard uniform dictated by the Imperial Navy. It was a high collared mess jacket in black with scarlet facings with a white waistcoat along with black trousers and boots.
Although the uniform pattern was standard, it was customary for officers to have their clothes tailored. There was a degree of competition between them all to have the finest cloth and smartest cut. I surmised that James was perhaps one of the front runners.
We headed to the spacedock. As the lift descended to the dock the gravity, of course, reduced. I activated the ZeroG functionality. My Cuban heels contained the usual magnetic coils that activated and deactivate with my shift in weight such that I could walk with a more or less normal gait in 0g with no fear of launching my self into space. My dress, however, was a masterpiece of design. Sewn into each pleat was a gossamer fine high tensile rod that became rigid when I turned on 0g. They allowed my dress to float as normal .... but only back and forth, not up!
We boarded the Clipper INV AW - IV one of 10 ship's boats that serve as tenders to the INV Achenar's Will. There were already four couples onboard and James introduced me to all. We chatted and had a few predinner drinks as we made another hop to collect the last of the guests.
We docked with the Achenar's Will in the standard manner, each Clipper being brought below and stored in its specific hanger. Another brief sashay through 0g followed and the usual awkward reorientation to up/down as we entered the hab ring of the vessel.
We formed on the end of a longish line of other guests who were waiting to be announced as we entered the main room. There was a highly regimented order in which we could enter the room, in order of seniority, junior ranks first. The Captain and guest of honour would be last.
It came to our turn
"Commander James Hong and Commander Lady Aztlan" called the herald as we walked in ... no one paid the slightest bit of attention. Well, no one appeared to pay the slightest attention. In truth, there were 100's of eyes and ears that surreptitiously zoned right in on each and every one who walked through the door.
To the uninitiated, the announcement might seem confusing. Both James and I were given the same rank, Commander. The difference is that HE was an Imperial Navy Commaander and I am a Pilot's Federation Comanda, the Federation style of pronunciation making the differentiation. Using my Naval Auxilla title of "Lady Aztlan" highlighted I am an active member of the Imperial administration, albeit in a figurehead role. James, as a fulltime Naval Officer, was forbidden to hold an honorific title, BUT upon retirement could take one if he wished.
All of this could be most confusing to anyone not of the Empire .... part of the reason why we do it.
I looked around the other guests, most were dressed in a similar manner to me, some a little more flashy, some a little less so. Subtle Chic is the Imperial style for the most part and the Royal Navy is on the conservative side of that. As is often the case though, my blazing red hair was unique.
There was one younger lass in a revealing white lace, high neck-line dress that was of an elaborate white floral pattern interwoven with fine golden strands. Each floral shape was strategically placed right on the borderline of "modest" and it was clear to all that there was nothing else underneath. She was a shapely girl, with long blonde hair that reached to her bottom, worn in a loose unruly cascade. She was undoubtedly front runner for Belle of the Ball. The young Lieutenant who was her host had a look as if he had just won the lottery.
As James is the Ship's Gunnery Officer Commanding we were one of the last to arrive.
"Commander Joanna Salome and Lord Baal " called the herald, my head snapped around in utterly unsurreptitious surprise at hearing Roy's name.
"Ship's Executive Officer" James whispered
"My Cell Mate" I whispered back
"I say, fine fellow"
Close on the heels of the XO was the Captain and Guest of Honour
"Captain William de Armas and Mr Armond Lasalle , Senator Gias Thornholt and Madam Patricia Thornholt"
The "Top Table" 4 entered the room together, passing a word or two as they passed by the crowd.
The Captain nodded to James "Good evening James" he said as he passed by and swept an eye over me making smiling eye contact
"Good evening Sir," James replied.
We all gravitated to our seats and stood behind them while the head table guests walked to theirs.
On cue, as the Captain sat, so too did we all.
The dinner that followed was amazing of course. Four courses of the finest foods the Imperial Naval Caterers could muster.
Through polite dinner conversation, we worked our way to the dessert.
Just as it was being served a steward handed me a note from the Vice of the Mess, the junior officer in charge of running the evening.
He nominated me to be the speaker for the fallen.
At the conclusion of the service, the night turned a little more jovial, with a series of "fines" being issued for various humourous "crimes". I was fined Cr1000 for turning the other cheek to the Thargoids, I protested that I had no choice as they had shot the other one off and as I said so, proffered by bum to the table, to the great mirth of all the guests, but to no avail. All monies from the fines were given to the Crewmen who had volunteered to steward for the evening.
A series of toasts followed, The Vice stood and called "Ladies and Gentlemen, To the Emperor"
We all stood and dutifully chanted "The Emperor" and drank
A very short time later another officer stood "Ladies and Gentlemen, To the Senate"
Again we stood and bottoms upped to "The Senate"
Another Midshipman "To the Royal Navy and Royal Marines"
with much more gusto the congregation bellowed "The Royal Navy and Royal Marines"
Yet another Junior officer "To the Achenar's Will, long may she sail! "
A resounding cry of " To Achenar Will she or Won't she !!! " as the tradition dictated
The toast came around to the Captain "To the fallen" he called in a clear and strong voice
The room fell silent, everyone on edge waiting to hear who had been nominated.
-don't fuck this up, do not. fuck. this. up. -
I took a deep breath and in my strongest voice, I called
"Chief Petty Officer Albert Eugene Samson. Federal Navy retired.
Killed in Action 4th of May 3306, Battle of Cres Tarn.
He died so that others might live"
I couldn't help the slight quaver in my voice.
"To Chief Petty Officer Albert Eugene Samson and all that rest with he"
There followed a minute of silence.
James gently took my hand as we stood, squeezed just a little.
Solemnly, the senior guests then retired from the table and moved to the anteroom again.
In seniority order we all moved out, maintaining the silence until we had left the room.
The evening was more or less over at that point.
James and I made small talk with Roy and the XO and chatted with a few others. James sought out and introduced me to his Junior Officers as was the tradition, all very pleasant and professional people.
At each introduction, I was "scanned" and assessed by the other Plus Ones. Many locked eyes on my leather bracelet and no doubt wondered why one would wear such a ratty old thing, probably imagining it to be the hide of some exotic species.
Captain de Armas worked his way around to us "Hello James, Lady Aztlan" he said "may I introduce my husband, Armand Lasalle"
"A pleasure Mr Lasalle. Maggie," I said, shaking hands
"Armand. That was a most moving dedication, Maggie, " Lasalle said, continuing to hold my hand in both of his, "He must have been a fine fellow, I could hear how much he meant to you"
"Thank you, Armand, I just hope I did him justice,"
"You most certainly did Maggie, especially on such short notice. We do that on purpose you know, it gives a truer account, I say. " Said Captain de Armas "It's not often we toast Federals but from what I hear Al was a sterling chap."
"The best Sir," I replied.
"Now, James, how long have you been hiding .. this," The Captain said, waving his finger at James and I.
"Umm since about 14:00 yesterday, Sir," said James with a laugh
"Well, damn fine show, a partner like Maggie might just get you on that straight and narrow, it's a command next, you know."
I blushed.
"Well, leave you to it hey? I'd best go and cosy up to the Senator for a bit if we want that new fighter squadron, enjoy the rest of your evening"
"Yes Sir, thank you, Sir, " James replied.
"Lovely to meet you, Armand," I said
They moved on.
"Sorry about that Maggie"
"Oh? He was delightful"
"No, I mean the straight and narrow thing"
"Oh yes, Well I'm way too off the rails for that"
James looked alarmed
"I'm kidding," I said
"You're terrible"
"Yes, I know"
The night wound down from there and before too long we were walking back to the hanger and the Clipper back to Tannhauser.
James walked me back to the Palace.
"Thank you so much for the evening, Maggie," he said
"The pleasure was all mine James, I've not had such an enjoyable time since ..... well, ever."
"We must do it again sometime."
"Yes I'd like that"
We got to the door.
"Will you come in?" I asked
"Ah, no, best not, I'm on duty again in a few hours, need to, get back to the ship."
"Yes of course," I replied, perhaps a little disappointed.
He turned to me wrapped me in a clone embrace.
His hand slid from my cheek to the back of my head and we kissed,
We held it for just a wee bit longer than "Thanks for dinner".
"Goodnight then," he said and turned and walk down the path.
As I watched him walk away, he stopped and looked back, I felt a thrill in my tummy and then he was gone.
- He's serious -
Bugger.