Faraway
© 2021 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by :iconahro:

Combat Support Element 41 is directed to proceed at best speed to Colonial Fleet Base Florian, and act in support of the Sixth Colonial Fleet in its operations . . . 
Meredith rubbed a bit more sleep from her eyes and reread the message.  Her morning coffee sat near her padd, cooling slightly before she could start drinking it.  The mare’s nostrils flared as she breathed, savoring the aroma rising from her mug.
The glazed guava-filled pastry that sat beside the coffee, however, already had a bite out of it.
The notice on her padd was basically an alert, letting the various freighter and escort captains know to get their ships fueled and provisioned and to get their crews back aboard and ready to go.  Once all of the ships reported that they were ready, the escort commander would let everyone know what the destination was.
Since the A Quiet Life and the other transports were all armed, chances were good that they would be following a formation of warships.
A paw curled around the handle of her mug and she brought it to her lips.  She’d been patient, and the coffee was still hot, but not hot enough to burn her lips and mouth.  The touch of cardamom added a little spice to the brew, and the golden palomino mare smiled as she lowered the mug and began reading the rest of her morning briefing.
Her ears perked at the news that three deuterium tankers had entered the system in order to assist This Far’s refinery in refueling all of the ships that had been waiting, hers included, with varying degrees of patience.  Her tail flagged back and forth and she smiled around another bite of pastry.
The crew were mostly all aboard, with Fuji out in the Kraftsberg worshiping and Hui and Christina still unaccounted for.  No prizes for what they might be doing, but all three were expected back by 1100 ship’s time.
Her padd chimed.  “Excuse me, Captain,” Jax said from his helm position on the bridge.
“Yes, Jax?” Meredith asked, taking another sip of her coffee.
“Commodore Bury, personal for you.”
The mare raised an eyebrow.  “Put her through, please,” and the pangolin’s face appeared.  “Good morning, Danyell.”
“Good morning, Meredith.”  Bury looked distressed, her long tongue flicking slightly.  “I just – I just wanted to talk to someone.”
Her ears flicked forward and she leaned slightly forward in her seat.  “What’s wrong?  Are you okay?”
Bury took a deep breath.  “I just got my briefing from the ColMilComm.  We’re part of the support for a fleet headed for Faraway.”
A cold feeling hit Meredith’s stomach as she suddenly remembered.  “Are your husband and children okay?”
A fast, jerky nod.  “I spoke with them a couple days ago,” she said, “but there’re reports that the Confed’s going to take a swing at Faraway.”
“Do you have time to come over?” the mare asked.  “You look like you could use a shoulder.”
“You’d do that?”
The mare nodded firmly.  “Of course.  I have family here on This Far, so we can share worries.”
The pangolin took a breath.  “I’ll be there – about an hour?”
“Sure.”  Bury’s image vanished from her padd.
Meredith finished her breakfast and headed for the bridge, taking her seat while saying, “Commodore Bury will be aboard in about an hour, Jax.”
The rat twitched his tail.  “Business?”
“Just wants a talk,” Meredith replied with a shake of her head.
Slightly under two hours later a Navy shuttle coupled to the freighter’s starboard lock.  The shuttle had a flight crew of two, and one passenger.
Meredith stood at the lock as the pressures equalized and the doors opened for the pangolin.  The mare smiled and offered a paw.  “Welcome aboard, Danyell.”
“Thank you, Meredith.”  The mare led the way to the dining area while Bury remarked, “Nice place.  Still has that new ship smell to it.”
The mare chuckled.  “Jealous?”
“Nah.  Hammer’s a good ship.”  They entered the room, and Meredith prepared tea for both of them.  They sat down at one of the tables while several members of the crew shifted where they were sitting to give the two captains some space.
Bury sipped at her tea and nibbled at a pastry before saying, “I’m sorry – “
“Don’t be.”  Meredith took a drink of her own tea.  “I saw what happened at Indawo, same as you did.  I don’t like the idea of the Confed coming anywhere near This Far, so I completely sympathize with you.”
“Faraway’s closer to the Core than This Far.”
The mare nodded.
“I have three sons.”
“Two baby brothers.”  Meredith grinned.  “I have pictures.”
Bury responded to this with a raised eyebrow as she drew her padd from a pocket.  Meredith got hers out as well, and for several minutes they and a few members of the freighter’s crew shared family pictures and anecdotes.
After an hour, the two captains were walking back to the airlock.  “Thank you,” Bury said.  “Your crew’s very close.”
“Like family,” Meredith agreed.  “One of the benefits of such a small crew.  You know, you can do this over on Hammer.”
“Do you think so?”
“Sure.   Larger crew, of course, but I’m sure they all have families, and it’s a shlan’s wager that most or all of them are worried.”
Bury nodded to herself.  “I’ll try reaching out.  It might help morale.”  She paused at the interior lock door.  “How’s that vir doing?”
“She went home on leave,” the mare replied.  “But she’ll be back.”
“Ah.  Take care of yourself, Meredith.”
She smiled.  “I will, but that’s pretty much your job, Danyell.”  The two chuckled, and Bury stepped into the shuttle.  The lock doors closed and the departure procedure started.
A couple hours later, a shuttle from Magus Station docked and the ship’s last three crewmembers came aboard.  Meredith was standing there, tapping a hoof.  “About time,” she said with mock asperity as Hui and Christina stepped over the threshold.  “If you broke the bed on the station, you’re paying for it.”
The cow and the bear laughed.  “We bent the frame,” Hui said, and the two cargo supervisors strolled off to their quarters.
Fuji tried to edge past her, and the mare stopped the Komodo monitor with a paw against his chest.  “Not so fast, you.”
“Yes, Captain?” the bull asked.  He looked surprised as she wrapped her arms around him.  “Is everything all right?” he added as he put his arms around her to return the hug.
She nuzzled his shoulder, and said nothing for a few moments.