Space Cadets, Chapter 1

Well, I really enjoyed the recent episode of the TV Show Fringe where Walter Bishop told Olivia's niece a story.  it got me thinking that I ought to tell me own girls a story.  But then I decided not to do it off the cuff.  So the following is the first part of my story for my girls.  Comments are welcome!  Enjoy!

“Space Cadets Helena and Ellia Olmstead and the New Hoboken Zoo”

Chapter 1: Battle Stations!

           Space Cadet First Class Helena Olmstead stood on the forward observation deck of the USS Orion’s Bow gazing down on planet VS-138, called “New Hoboken” by its latest residents—the colonists of MARSAT-4, New Space Territory, Republic of Earth.

“Watch’a doin’, sis?” a familiar voice called out from behind.  “Givin’ that planet the old googly eyes again?”

Helena turned, and her nascent smile flattened.  “Don’t you mean ‘ma’am’ there little sister?  I am your superior officer, after all.”

Ellia snapped to, instantly ripping off a perfect parade-ground salute.  “Aye aye, ma’am!  Space Cadet Third Class Ellia Olmstead is heartily chastised, ma’am, by her oh-so-superior sister.  Even if said sister is mooning like a love-sick space puppy at the planet below us, ma’am!”

Helena’s face reddened.  “I am not mooning like a love-sick space puppy!”

“Please!” Ellia said.  “I saw your coms traffic while I was working my rotation in Engineering.  You’re meeting that dreamy Rick Hanover at the New Hoboken Zoo tomorrow when you go one Shore Leave.”  Ellia cleared her throat and put on a deep, gravely voice.  “’Oh Rick, I count the hours until we dock at New Hoboken Junction!  If only we had more time to—‘“

Helena listened until her mouth fell open.  “You read my coms traffic?!”

“Well, I… uh…” 

“But those were my private letters!”

“Yeah, but uh—“  Ellia, perhaps realizing that she’d overstepped, took a judicious step backwards.

Helena stepped forward, closing the distance with her sister.  “You little sneak!  Why I ought’a pound you!  If you think you can just—“

“Look,” Ellia said, holding up both hands, palms out, against the rising storm, “it wasn’t like that.  I was working with Chief Overstreet, and I had to put the coms traffic through the Digital Scrambler and then upload it to the Flux Wave Accelerator, and then—“

Thankfully, an alarm cut through Ellia’s explanation.  “ATTENTION ON DECK!  ATTENTION ON DECK!  All Hands to Battle Stations!  All Hands to Battle Stations!  Attention on deck!  All Hands to Battle Stations!  This is not a drill!”

Ellia smiled.  “Ooops!  Gotta go, sis!  Wouldn’t wanna keep the Captain waiting!”

Helena scowled.  “We’re not finished here, Ellia!  Why I’m gonna—“

“No time!” Ellia replied.  “Bye!”

            With that, Ellia took off running, heading back towards her post at Engineering.  Helena scowled, but there was nothing she could do.  Her confrontation with her sister would have to wait.  Because Ellia was right about one thing—Helena couldn’t possibly afford to keep the captain waiting.

***

            When the alarm sounded for Battle Stations, the USS Orion’s Bow became a study in controlled chaos.  Over six hundred men and women ran, climbed, and scurried through the halls, hatchways, and ports of the great ship, making ready for whatever might occur out in the wilds of deep space.  For Helena, the controlled confusion was a welcome relief from her sister’s taunting—and from thinking about Rick Hanover.  Oh Rick!  Long black hair, dark eyes, and a beautiful smile when he cared to show it.  It was true what Ellia said—Rick was dreamy.  But, beautiful boy or no, it wasn’t easy being friends with Rick Hanover.  No, Rick was working a Space Internship as a Galactic Zoologist’s Assistant, traveling around the galaxy with Professor Stubbledorf, studying the odd flora and fauna of the New Space Territory to make sure that it was safe for all of the colonists heading out from Old Earth Space.  Alas, Rick was perhaps the only boy in the entire Galaxy whose studies involved more travel than Helena’s own.  Helena might be a Space Cadet First Class, but at least she had to return to Earth for classes every semester.  With Professor Stubbledorf, Rick wasn’t likely to see Earth again until he was almost ready to graduate!  All of which made this stop at New Hoboken even more important.  Who knew when Helena would have another chance to see her beautiful boy?

            Well, there’s no time for worrying about that now, Helena thought, we’re going to Battle Stations.  She came onto the ship’s bridge, saw the Captain looking intently at something on his private screen, and slid into her own station at the Helm’s Secondary Control.  “Space Cadet First Class Helena Olmstead reporting for duty!” she said to let the Captain know she’d arrived.  “What is it, sir?  Vishandi Raiders?  A War Fleet from the Galactic Imperium?  Good, old-fashioned space pirates?”

            “Easy, Helena,” the Captain replied.  He was a tall man with buzz-cut salt-and-pepper hair, a stiffly starched space-black uniform, and piercing steel-blue eyes.  But though Captain Adarsh Adarsby could be scary when he was angry, he also had a ready smile—one that he favored Helena with just then.  “It’s nothing like that.  There’s been a disturbance at the New Hoboken Zoo.” 

            “The New Hoboken Zoo?” Helena said.  “Oh no!”  Rick’s at the Zoo!

“Yes,” Captain Adarsby said.  “Apparently some of the proto-dinosaurs have escaped, and the city’s mayor has called and asked for our assistance in recapturing them before anyone gets hurt.”

“Those dinosaurs can be dangerous, sir!” Helena said.

“Indeed they can, Helena, indeed they can.  I was just about to dispatch a VT-49 Assault Shuttle and a squad of Marines to help the mayor—“

“Thank you, sir!” Helena said.  It came out in a rush, and she blushed when she realized that she’d just interrupted her commanding officer.

Captain Adarsby frowned.  “Well, you seem very concerned about the New Hoboken Zoo, Space Cadet Olmstead.  Is there something that you’d like to tell me?”

“Yessir!  It’s just that my—“  Helena’s blush turned furious when she thought about Rick Hanover.  What did the Captain care about some silly boy?  Her face felt like it was on fire just thinking about it!  “My, uh, my friend is down on the planet, sir.  Working at the New Hoboken Zoo.  I’m, uh, just worried about him is all.”

To Helena’s astonishment, Captain Adarsby smiled again.  Some of the other bridge officers smiled as well.  Captain Adarsby said, “Your friend, huh?  Well.  I believe you’re qualified to a pilot a VT-49, aren’t you Space Cadet?”

“Yessir!” Helena replied.  What was this?  “I’ve got over 600 hours, sir.  Top of my Flight Class back at the Academy!”

“Very good, Helena.  You can take command of the rescue mission and pilot the shuttle.  The Marines are mustering on the Flight Deck.  Chief Blackstone’s down there, too.  He’ll be in charge of the Shore Party.”

“Yessir!” Helena said, already getting up.  She could hardly believe her ears!

“Oh, and one more thing, Helena.”

“Sir?”

“Pick up your little sister when you pass by Engineering,” the Captain said. 

“Sir?” Helena asked.  She couldn’t quite hide her shock.  Here she was, about to get her very first independent space command, and yet she still had to take her little sister along for the ride.

“Yes.  She can go with Chief Blackstone and the Shore Party,” the Captain said.  His look darkened.  “Why?  Is that a problem?”

“No sir!” Helena replied.  What choice did she have?

“Good,” the Captain replied.  “Now get going!  Those marines are waiting for you.”