Chapter 26
“How do you respond to the charges by Bishop Torrellini that our schools do not teach enough history of the roots of humanity?” Berin Lamont asked with his patented journalist’s grin.
“I quite agree that we do not teach enough of the history of old Earth.” Masako replied with a slight hint of a smile playing across her lips. Her tactic worked, she noticed right away when his eyes widened ever so slightly. She was dressed in a silver robe today, with blue nightingales. She was quite happy with it, especially because it was a very recent addition to her wardrobe.
“You do?” He asked when she didn’t expand on her answer. That was something Garret hadn’t quite mastered yet; forcing the interviewer to do most of the work to keep the interview flowing. He usually gave them what they wanted, almost without bothering them to ask. Still, he was doing much better now than when they’d first met. He no longer bent over backwards to make the True Borns around him happy with his work.
“Yes, I do.” Masako answered, and now that she had forced him to make the concession of asking another question, she gave him what he was waiting to hear. “Earth’s history is something we should never forget. For instance, the murder of millions by the Followers of Jordan as they rose to power was a key incident that led to the founding of the Republic. We should not forget the viciousness and pure evil of those people.”
“Are you… are you saying the Followers of Jordan are mass murderers?” Lamont’s voice was filled with horror, as if it was indecent to suggest such a thing.
“You see, Monsieur Lamont, this is why we should teach more of the history of Earth.” She said while allowing her smile to grow just a little bit more. “The Republic is far from perfect in our own history, but in three hundred years we have proven that we are better able to work together than our ancestors on Earth. It is true, is it not, that in the history of Humanity, it has been people of Earth that started wars?”
“Well, the Prophet has said that the Republic forced them into the last war.” Lamont said. “You can not also claim that the pirates that have plagued the Republic since it’s founding are all earthers.”
“In three hundred years, pirates have done far less damage to the Republic than the Empire did in the first ten years of the Great War.” Masako shot back ruthlessly. “The Republic tried to refrain from the use of chemical or nuclear weapons of the type that have so devastated this planet, but the Empire led by Earth used them so indiscriminately that we were forced to respond in kind. Now this planet, among others in the Republic, most struggle every day to pay the price of such awful weapons.”
“Yet the Republic did use those weapons when it re-took Calos.” Lamont’s voice held an edge to it and Masako shook her head with a rueful expression.
“It was probably one of the saddest days in the war.” Masako said softly. “Even with trying to limit their uses to military installations only, something the Empire never bothered with attempting to do, the resulting radiological and chemical damage to the environment had devastating effects. That is why the Republic did the only proper thing they could do at that point and poured over four hundred billion credits into building the cities on this continent so that Calosians could stay on Calos instead of evacuating to other worlds. Billions more are being used to rehabilitate contaminated land on Atlantia. Those lands damaged by fallout or chemical residue are being cleansed so they can be used again. It’s a lengthy process, re-filtering contaminated groundwater, removing layers of topsoil and cleansing it before reintroducing it to the ground, but it is a work that is progressing. I only wish we possessed the science to rehabilitate those areas directly damaged by nuclear blasts, but we are spending millions on researching such things.”
“Yes, well, the Republic caused the damage, it’s only fair they pay for it.” Lamont said sourly, expressing a common sentiment on this planet.
“Yes, that is fair.” Masako agreed, but then she paused before continuing. “Tell me, Monsieur Lamont, how much of that damage was caused by the Empire though?”
“I don’t know.” Lamont said immediately.
“No cities were damaged by Republic nukes, although some of the fallout made them uninhabitable.” Masako answered her own question. “The real damage came from the eight cities the Empire nuked, and the nuking of good farmland they did as they left orbit. Do you remember them using their ‘scorched earth’ policy as they left orbit? Six republic warships sacrificed themselves, with all hands aboard, to save four surviving Calosian cities. All the other cities but one were defended successfully. It was a sad day that we did not have the resources to stop the fourteen nukes that hit the central farmlands of the Atlantian continent though. Without that damage, the continent would have endured and not had to have been evacuated.”
“Be that as it may, they would never have done that if the Republic had not tried to re-take Calos.” Lamont argued.
“Are you saying Calos would have been better off without the Republic?” It was Masako’s turn to have an edge to her voice and the man paled slightly.
“Don’t be so concerned, Monsieur.” She said comfortingly. “This is the Republic now, not the Empire. In the Republic, you could say that you believe Calos was better off under Imperial control without fear of arrest or torture. I know people had to fear such things under the Empire, but that is not a concern anymore, is it?”
“No, it’s not.” Lamont said with a sigh and did not move to answer the question any further.
“That is good.” She said with a smile. “So, if we look at history, we understand that while the Republic bears some responsibility for the ecological damage to Calos, the greater share lies with Earth and its Empire. The Republic has given several hundred billion to fixing the damage it caused during the war. How much has Earth given?”
“Um, well, they are no longer in control here, are they?” Lamont asked. “Why should they give any?”
“Their bishop comes here, eats our food, recruits our people for his religious faith, enjoys the shelter and comfort of our laws and our hard work.” Masako said. “He hints that others might come from Earth if they are allowed. They will be breathing our air, eating our food, and they are responsible for more of the damage to our planet than anyone else. Do they not have at least a moral obligation to contribute to its recovery?”
“That’s a good question.” Lamont conceded without answering the question, but Masako had what she wanted from him now. “Would the Republic even allow them to help if they offered the money?”
“That’s an interesting question, one I honestly hope the Republic has to take up one day, if the Empire actually made the offer.” Masako said with a smile. “Unfortunately for the people of Calos, the Empire has a longer history of taking money from people instead of using it to actually help the average person.”
“Yes, well why don’t we move to a less depressing subject?” Lamont said with a smile that threatened to blind Masako. “You’re several months pregnant, are you not?”
“Yes I am.” Masako said as she put a hand on her protruding belly. Like her mother, she was graced with a pregnancy that only made her look better, not fat. “Our son will be born here on Calos of course, in just a few months. Why?”
“Well, isn’t it a little unusual for a clone to be able to father a child?” Lamont asked in a bland tone that was impossible to take offense to, at least publicly.
“I find that many things about my fiancé are unusual.” Masako answered after pausing a moment to quell the urge to say something less than polite. “Garret Atrix was created, though, to carry on the name of House Atrix.”
“But what about your child?” Lamont asked. “Will he be clone or human? How was he conceived?”
“Many of the Great Houses have their children conceived in vitro.” Masako answered while being careful to not sound defensive. “This allows genetic modifications to be done more easily. Since many of the Great Houses expect their children to serve in the military for at least one term of service, it allows them to enjoy some of the same genetic enhancements as military clones. They are better protected from poisons and chemical weapons, they have greater stamina as well as an easier time building muscle mass and similar things. Although the final decision on whether he will serve or not will be up to our son, we want him to be prepared for any eventuality we can, and conceiving him in vitro is the best way to do that.”
“But will he be human?” Lamont asked and this time she frowned.
“Monsieur Lamont, you know very well that all clones are considered human.” Masako said sternly. “Your question is therefore nonsensical.”
“Bishop Torrellini isn’t the only person who claims that clones are an abomination before god.” Lamont said with a strong hint of his own defensiveness creeping into his voice. “Most sects of the Christian faith hold that genetically engineering human beings is morally wrong, a sin.”
“Yes, my soon-to-be sister-in-law says much the same thing.” Masako said with a shrug. “She, and anyone else, has a right to believe as they wish. That also means I have the right to believe there is nothing morally wrong with such genetic engineering. Our son will be born in full accordance with Republic law. That should be enough for anyone.”
“So you’re willing to flout the beliefs of a majority of Calosians in order to make your son better than the average human?” Lamont asked and Masako’s eyes narrowed dangerously.
“When did I say that my son would be better than the average human?” Masako asked angrily.
“Well, I’m paraphrasing.” Lamont said quickly. “You listed all the improvements you made to his genetics…”
“That does not make him, or anyone else in this universe ‘better’ than anyone else.” Masako practically growled. “It may make him better suited for certain things, like serving on the battlefield, but it doesn’t make him a super-human. I think you need to go back to school, Monsieur Lamont, and re-learn the principles upon which the Republic was created. Do you not remember ‘All humans are born equal under the law, each to be respected for what they might contribute, regardless of status, wealth, or race.’?”
“That’s the preamble of the Republic’s Charter, but its just words.” Lamont said with a sniff.
“Just words?” Masako asked with an arched eyebrow. “For three hundred years those words have guided the Republic. Whenever the Deliberatorium seeks to pass a law, it is put to the test of those words to ensure the law does not go against the intent of the Preamble. To just dismiss them as cavalierly as you do makes me wonder how well you were taught by the school you attended as a child.”
“I went to a private school.” Lamont muttered, looking down.
“Oh yes, wasn’t that a school run by the Imperial occupiers of this world?” Masako asked with a tilt of her head and was proud that her voice was not sarcastic.
“Yes.” Lamont admitted with a slight flush to his cheeks.
“I’ve never had an opportunity to speak to someone who attended one of those schools.” Masako said in what was not quite a lie. She’d certainly never had the opportunity to talk to them about what the Earther schools taught about the Republic. “What did they teach about the Republic?”
“I don’t see what that has to do with the topic at hand.” Lamont said defensively.
“On the contrary, I believe it has everything to do with the topic at hand.” Masako countered with a smile. “We’re discussing, among other things, claims by an Earther bishop that our schools do not teach enough about his home world, a world that has spent much of the last six decades at war with us, which occupied this world for three of those decades and ruled here with an iron fist. Now they claim we do not teach enough about them, or that we do not teach about them in a fair way. I think it entirely cogent that we discuss what they taught you about the Republic.”
“Well, um, they had very set opinions.” Lamont conceded, trying to answer without really giving an answer.
“What kind of opinions?” Masako asked.
“You have to understand that they have a firm belief in certain religious teachings.” He said hesitantly. “They believe the Fellowship is the one, true way to salvation and of course, the Republic’s freedoms of religious beliefs contradict that way of thought.”
“So they were disdainful of one of the core principles of Republic life?” Masako said slowly without losing her smile. “I guess that should be expected. Was that the worst they had to say?”
“No.” Lamont admitted uncomfortably. He looked like he wanted to end the discussion right there, but he didn’t dare. “They taught that the Republic was made up of heretics who would burn in hell forever because of their ways and that we had to repent of the ways of our ancestors if we wanted salvation.”
“Interesting.” Masako said while carefully changing her grin to a neutral expression. “You know the Republic’s laws state that a person cannot be held accountable for the crimes of his parents or other family members. A person is only accountable for what she does, or does not do. The concept of attainder, such as the Earthers use, is foreign to us.”
“Yes, well, few would assert that the ways of the Fellowship are like the Republic.” Lamont stated carefully. “If they were more similar, maybe there wouldn’t have been a Great War.”
“No, we would all be following the orders of their Emperor/Prophet.” Masako pointed out, allowing a frown to form on her face. “Instead, we are free to live our lives according to the dictates of our own consciences. I know which I prefer.”
“Yes, well, that is a moot point, now isn’t it?” Lamont said before turning the conversation to the Twilight Sector, a growing news story several weeks after Garret’s visit there. The Twilight Sector was something Masako had watched Garret handle with envy. She’d grown up in a Great House, and learned the business of Great Houses at her father’s knee, just like Garret had leaned from Marja Lars. Garret outshone them all, though, as he was proving with the advances in the sector stricken by poverty and neglect.
She’d been surprised as the realization struck her that she did love Garret Atrix. It would be a difficult task to not love the man she was marrying for several reasons. Few could doubt his military prowess after not only the Battle of Lemos, but the Defense of Peladon as well. Garret was also instrumental in reestablishing the faith of Republic citizens in the Republic’s system of Great and Minor Houses. Despite all that, it was his work with the denizens of what was now the City of Twilight that had won her heart.
She sometimes wished things were different and that they would share a bed as a married couple, but she was adult enough to recognize the disaster that waited down that road.
“As you might imagine, I’ve been following the developments in the City of Twilight quite closely.” Masako said with a pleasant grin on her face. “Garret was so touched by the plight of the people stuck there that he just had to do something. The Great Houses have long understood the difference between giving a person a fish versus the benefit of teaching her to fish, and I believe what’s been happening there highlights that perfectly.”
“But aren’t you worried about the inherit unfairness of how they incorporated into their own city?” Lamont asked. “They’ve totally excluded fifteen buildings on the border between them and New Edinburgh!”
“Pardon me, but aren’t those buildings being incorporated by the City of New Edinburgh?” Masako countered. “I believe the Fellowship purchased those buildings weeks ago and were immediately granted inclusion by the City Council to receive New Edinburgh addresses as well as City services. When the City of Twilight filed their incorporation papers with the Province offices, they would have been stepping on New Edinburgh’s rights if they had included those buildings.”
“But how can they expect to finance all the services a City is supposed to provide when they have no real source of revenue?” Lamont complained and Masako’s smile widened.
“Really, Monsieur Lamont, you should know better.” Masako purred. “The only reason they have no industry now is that they were never incorporated into New Edinburgh as the city was built up. Since they have filed for incorporation, over two hundred businesses have considered moving into that sector. Halpen Manufacturing has purchased an entire city block that it will be renovating into a major factory for their home decorating products. Tremere Entertainment has now leased four different properties to use in building entertainment facilities that are not suitable to New Edinburgh.”
“You mean casinos and adult entertainment centers that no decent person would visit.” Lamont sniffed.
“By the standards of some, I’m sure you’re right.” Masako smiled. “Still, they are not prohibited by Provincial or Planetary laws, and the citizens of Twilight have made the choice to allow them in their new city. House Atrix has also entered into a consortium of private health care providers to build a new private hospital in Twilight. It will provide elective and high-tech treatments not generally covered by the planetary health care system as well as basic health care to area residents who are not already customers of a standard planetary clinic. Garret has also kindly given me enough money to start a private school in the sector. Just yesterday I selected a building for the new school. We will offer primary education on two floors of the facility for children ages ten and younger. Another floor will offer advanced education for students between eleven and fourteen, complete with Oberman implant training that will allow students to attend any university or college in the Republic. The fourth floor will offer college-level education for older students and prepare them for unlimited career options as they reach adulthood. Since Twilight City currently has no state-funded schools, we will offer tuition services through the Calosian voucher program to help any area child attend school.”
“Where do you expect to find teachers for your new school?” Lamont asked with a gleam in his eye that told her he knew about the intimidation going on to keep local teachers from applying.
“We begin interviews next week.” Masako replied with a smile. “We hope to begin school instruction within two months and so far we have received over sixty applications from other cities here on Calos. I understand the school system of New Edinburgh has been able to ensure its teachers have no interest in working with us, and that’s fine.”
“Don’t you need at least forty instructors at your school?” Lamont asked. “Do you think enough teachers that have applied will be qualified?”
“A preliminary review of the applications indicates that most of them are qualified.” Masako said calmly. “We’ve also opened a number of positions for off-world applicants. So far, six of the most prestigious instructors from such schools as the Republic Public University on Peladon, the University of Applied Sciences on Shinawa, and the Academy of Republic History and Politics have expressed their intent to hold classes at our new college.”
“That’s all well and good, but will your students be able to use their degree for anything?” Lamont asked. “How do you expect to get your new schools accredited so quickly?”
“We have already received preliminary approval of our proposed curriculum from the Monitoring Office of the Republic Private Education Oversight Ministry.” Masako answered pleasantly. “The schools are being administered by a team of six board members represented by the major investors. A full-time administrator will be named within the next year, but I have assumed those duties for now.”
“Are you even qualified?” Lamont asked with a hint of disdain.
“Oh yes, I received my teaching credential when I was sixteen and renewed it a year ago in the off-chance I might wish to pursue a career in that field.” Masako answered, glad he had once again failed to do the most basic of research.
“Yes, well I’m afraid that’s all the time we have for today. Thank you for your time Ms Ito.” He said officiously and the cameras that had been recording them winked out. He didn’t’ even bother to exchange pleasantries with Masako before he got up and left. Masako stood and glided out of the room as her mother had taught her. Posture was everything.
“You did well.” Lelaine said as they exited the building. A sideways glance showed the expected smile on the woman’s face and Masako relaxed slightly. That smile always meant a fun time later in their bed, and that was a most satisfying reward for her victory today.
“Is Garret still up in space?” She asked as they got into her vehicle. It took off as soon as they were settled, and she relaxed for the short flight back to the gondola-boarding pad.
Despite the protests of Garret’s security detail, they both used the gondola that every other citizen of Calos used to travel from New Edinburgh to the ‘Atrix Retreat’ further up the mountain. Lelaine had proposed that name, and it had stuck. Their house was approaching the half-completed point, but they still resided in the resort hotel. The rest of the complex, a series of shops and restaurants had slowly begun to fill with businesses and it was already a popular place for businesses to take their employees for lunch, or executives to meet. Also the Calosian entertainment industry stars had fallen in love with the mountain plateau’s shops and beautiful views so they were quite frequently seen up there, drawing even more gawkers and tourists. The ride up the gondola was free, with the equipment and services being run solely by House Atrix at no cost to the public or individuals.
The secret for that was that the gondolas had sophisticated monitoring equipment that searched every passenger for explosive devices or weapons. If they had weapons or explosives, a discreet security agent would meet them at the exit point and tell them they had won a special prize, courtesy of House Atrix. Sometimes people even did win such prizes and weren’t subjected to body searches and intensive questioning.
“Yes, he’s just finishing up his fighter test.” Lelaine replied with a bright smile. “He’s totally unaware of the shuttles of news crews taping his every move, and he has no idea that the military has forgotten to encrypt his frequencies.”
“Oh my, he’s going to be pissed at us when he finds out.” Masako grinned back. An enterprising military clerk had recently uncovered that Garret’s qualifications as Commander of the fleet wasn’t up to date. He’d missed certifications in the shuttles, bombers, and fighters flown by the fleet, apparently something necessary for officers of his rank and assignment. He’d wanted it kept quiet as he went through the required flight-testing, but Lelaine and Masako had leaked it to the media as being part of a ‘normal’ certification process. They’d even had a few military officers willing to speak to the cameras to verify that it was just a routine process.
That guaranteed wild interest in it, and most of it was being caught on camera.
“I’ll tell him it was all your idea.” Lelaine teased back.
“Well, father leaves tonight, our time, on his way here for the wedding.” Masako reflected calmly. “His mother and father have already left and his brother should be here in the morning, along with his wife. He will not cancel the marriage with all of them having made the trip this far.”
“Or so you hope.” Lelaine teased her, and Masako reached out to hold her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“You really are okay with us, and with this marriage?” Masako asked Lelaine.
“He has my heart as much as he has yours, Masako.” Lelaine said with an easy grin. “I have not been able to find a single person who does not love him as much as we do after they have served with him for a few weeks, or a month at most. It is good he is not a Jordanite priest, you know, or he would lead half the Republic into the service of the Earthers.”
“He is charismatic.” Masako mused with a smile.
“It is more than that.” Lelaine replied in an old, familiar argument between them. “He is a true believer. Garret believes in the Republic, in its principles, and its values. When he speaks, he shows his faith in the Republic, and his actions reflect his dedication. That is why he succeeds so well. When he goes to speak to businessmen, he gets them to pull out their checkbooks and give because they believe in his faith in the rightness of his plans. Already three prominent Calosian families have filed their Intent to Declare Minor House status.”
“When did this happen?” Masako asked with a sharp turn of her head.
“While you were in the interview.” Lelaine grinned and Masako almost snapped at her angrily. This was something she’d been waiting for along with Garret and she’d been stuck in that stupid interview while he was up in space! “They timed it perfectly, really. They did not want you or Garret, or Davlan Tremere standing with them. Each of them wanted to appear to have reached the decision on their own, right down to holding three separate press conferences in three different cities.”
“The Congress is going to go crazy over this.” Masako smiled. “By Republic law Minor Houses must have voice and vote in the local government and the current Calosian power structure has no way to incorporate that requirement.”
“Minority Leader Jean Vierre is introducing legislation to recognize Minor Houses as having voice and vote in the Congressional delegation and to allow them to organize as a separate party instead of having to declare affiliation with either party.”
“That is good.” Masako agreed as the vehicle landed. She straightened her hair and robe before getting out and walking towards the waiting gondola. It would be held for her, of course. That was one small perk of her rank at least. On the way, she was stopped many times and shook hands with people who had been waiting for the gondola. It’s doors opened and she waited in line, appearing like any other member of the public waiting for public transportation. It was always announced as a ‘minor malfunction’ when the gondola had to wait on her or Garret. Maybe one day, someone would figure it out, or maybe they already guessed and didn’t care. At least she did have an interesting conversation with a young woman who ended up sitting next to her on the ride up.
She was a prospective teacher at the new school, and wanted to know if Twilight really was always a little dark.
“Not now.” Masako answered with a smile.
*~*~*~*~*
The F-63 Phoenix was the newest fighter in the Republic arsenal, and his two carriers each carried a full squadron of the ultimate space superiority fighters. Thanks to a new gravitic drive system it could maneuver better than any other fighter even in the depths of space where outside gravity forces were barely present. A forward turret held two of the most powerful lasers ever put on a fighter, and the aft rail gun guaranteed death for any opponent coming up from behind.
It’s most deadly weapons, long-range anti-fighter missiles were stored in an interior weapons bay that fit fifteen of the deadly weapons while six short-range missiles hung on exterior pylons.
Like all fighter and bomber cockpits, Garret had to lie flat on his stomach wearing a full space survival suit with independent life support. One tube hooked him up to the fighter’s life support system, allowing him to survive for longer than the few hours his suit would provide. A wire also hooked up to his helmet, connecting him to the ship’s control systems. The interior of his specialized helmet brought up visual images he would need to fly and fight with the fighter, but a connection between the helmet and his Oberman implant made that redundant.
It was the power of a pilot’s thoughts that controlled the fighter. Sure, there were hand controls that his hands rested inside, fitting over his gloved hands like a second glove, but they were only for use if the thought-sensing controls were malfunctioning, which rarely happened. It would take so much damage that it would incapacitate the fighter to knock out those systems. Around him, the cockpit was filled with a thick, jelly like substance that was infused into the fighter before launch, and drained after recovery before the pilot could disembark. During combat flight, the gel acted in concert with a small artificial gravity system that reduced the effects of rapid acceleration and combat maneuvering. If he had to eject from a damaged fighter, it would act as a buffer and stasis field, which was fitting since it had originally been developed for deep sleep canisters.
“Talon One, you’ve completed the obstacle course.” The voice of the grizzled Commander who was acting as his test proctor came over his helmet and Garret relaxed slightly. The obstacle course that had been set up near one of Calos’s many asteroid fields had been among the most difficult he’d ever encountered. Even Academy graduates would find it challenging, which shouldn’t have been surprising since the Commander had been an Academy student himself.
“Roger that, lead.” Garret replied tersely. “Ready for live-fire exercise.”
“Copy that.” The Commander acknowledged. “Target drones are being deployed now.”
“Got them on my scanner, lead.” Garret replied as the contacts appeared in the mental picture he was receiving from the fighter’s computer. It wasn’t quite at the level of an AI, but his experience with Ada made him particularly adept at visualizing the feedback from the ship’s systems.
“Engage when ready.” The Commander ordered and moments later the fighter shuddered as fifteen missiles launched, one second apart from each other. All fifteen hit the target drones quickly, a perfect score. The proctor’s next statement gave Garret little warning as to the next phase of the testing. “Prepare for close combat maneuvering.”
“Roger.” Garret barely acknowledged before two blips appeared, separating from where they’d hidden on a nearby asteroid. He cursed silently as they fired ‘simulated’ missiles at him, and he engaged his fighter’s jammers while beginning extreme evasive maneuvers that rocked him despite inertial dampeners, artificial gravity, and the protective gel.
He flattened out from his maneuvers after the last missile missed, and skewed his tail end to port just two degrees as one of the attacking fighters attempted to get a laser shot on him. They were both F-53’s, fast and nimble space intercept fighters that were a severe challenger to a space superiority fighter like his. The first enemy died in simulated fire from his aft rail gun turret.
“Damage to port wing and engine.” The computer’s voice rang in his helmet and he cursed as the second fighter savaged his wing while he had destroyed its wingman. That would be the fighter being flown by the Commander, a verified quadruple ace from the Great War. As the fighter’s computer shut down the ‘damaged’ systems, his controls grew erratic, and he almost failed to dodge the second round of fire from his remaining opponent.
What followed was a looping battle that made the obstacle course look easy as he fought for supremacy of position and a clean shot at the Commander. The man wasn’t about to make this easy on Garret, even if Garret was his commanding officer, and Garret was bound and determined that he would win this contest. To be certified, all he had to do was take out one of his attackers, but merely passing had never been completely satisfactory for him. Yes, he’d accept that if that were all he could get, but he’d never stop wanting more.
A passing shot of his clipped the Commander’s fighter and the fight became closer to even. They ranged dangerously close to the asteroid field several times, but Garret shied away from it although in a real fight he’d have headed there right away. That area had been declared off-limits and tests like this were not times to ‘break the rules’. Instead he did a risky maneuver and stalled his craft’s speed to nearly nothing, while looping to starboard, hoping to get a good shot at the Commander with his aft tail gun. Unfortunately, his shots missed and the Commander let loose with a simulated laser blast that would have destroyed his fighter if it had been real.
“Good flight, Commodore.” The Commander’s voice rang over his helmet system. “Just remember, speed is life.”
“Good fight, Commander.” Garret agreed with a sigh. Yes, the old axiom still held, speed was life, but sometimes even old axioms could be safely broken. Not this time, though, he accepted as he powered his fighter back up after wiping the simulated ‘damage’ from the system. They set course with the two ‘attacking’ fighters now flying in formation with him as the senior officer.
“I’ll have my official report ready a few hours after landing, sir.” The Commander said to him as they waited for the Clemenceau to direct them into its landing pattern. The skies of Calos were growing more and more busy every day with civilian merchant traffic, another good sign of Garret’s hard work over the last few months. “The sum of it will be that you are a highly qualified pilot and it is a damn shame I can’t have you as one of my pilots, sir.”
“Thank you Commander.” Garret acknowledged.
“If you want to come up and fly with us, I’d appreciate the opportunity to spar with you.” The Commander continued as the carrier gave Garret his landing course.
“Roger that, Clemenceau, beginning approach now.” Garret said before replying. “Commander, I might take you up on that. It seems my skills are getting a bit rusty.”
It took six minutes to land, another five to drain the gel out of the cockpit, and another four for him to make his way to the pilot changing rooms. The Commander popped his head inside while Garret was peeling off the flight suit to compliment him again before he headed off to his private quarters and his private changing room. The pilot of the other fighter came in and Garret stared in surprise.
“Lukas?” Garret almost stammered at his crewman from the Adamant.
“Hello, Commodore.” Lukas said with a grin as he set his helmet into a nearby locker and began to strip out of his own flight suit. “You got me good on that flight.”
“What are you doing flying a fighter?” He asked the 07 model clone. Sure, they weren’t incapable of being pilots, but the military rarely used them as anything but enlisted technicians.
“Captain Harrington thought it would help me defend the ship against fighters and bombers if I better understood how those craft were flown.” Lukas explained with a grin. “She called in a favor and got me into the flight training program with the Commander and now he uses me as his wingman on a lot of training jaunts.”
“Oh.” Garret said with one arm out of his flight suit and the other still encased in the tight material. Lukas had continued undressing while he talked, and was now peeling the tight suite from his well-muscled legs. That caused a very familiar reaction in him and when Lukas saw his face, the clone smiled.
“I know that look, hold on just a moment.” Lukas said as he grabbed his helmet, scuttled over to the hatch and put it on a hook outside. Then he shut the hatch and used a nearby wrench to dog it shut. “There, that’ll give us about fifteen minutes. It’s been far too long since we had a chance like this.”
“Yes.” Garret agreed as he slipped his other arm out of the suit. He needn’t have bothered though because Lukas was already helping him out of the rest of it before sinking to his knees. Garret felt a surge in his erection at the sight of those well-muscled knees bending. When Lukas opened his mouth and took Garret’s erection in, he let out a moan and Garret had to brace himself against a locker to keep upright.
Later, as Lukas wrapped his well-formed legs around Garret’s shoulders and Garret began to enter him gently, with much greater care than he ever used with Aaron, Garret wondered why he’d been cutting himself off from Lukas and the others. Sure, Aaron was a bit possessive, and sex with him was often wild and so totally different than with anyone else, but it wasn’t necessarily better. The truth was, he missed these gentle sessions like he had with Lukas, where Lukas’s powerful legs helped him feel cared for even as he was the one penetrating Lukas.
Yes, so totally different, but every bit as enjoyable.
As with all my stories, E provides immeasurable input, grammar checking, and all those other lovely editing thingies that make the story so much better!
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