All That Glitters Ch. 59

"I am Hanalei Anar, this is my co-mate, Junelliya Herlan, and our husband, Fayad Piscium. And these two are our children, Ikekiya Piscium and Zarreniya Piscium," Hanalei informed the new person.

"I am Suhana Balakrishna, the owner of Petu Restaran Balakrishna, which means..."

"Gourmet Restaurant Balakrishna," Zarreniya chimed in surprising the new person. "Do you know Aunty Damyanti?"

"Aunty Damyanti?" the newcomer laughed. "She is my older sister."

"She teach us Hindi," Ikekiya informed the new person. "But she not show us alphabet." Ikekiya pouted at this comment.

"It is a difficult alphabet to learn," Suhana informed them.

"No, Asocan alphabet hard to learn, Pod-Drran alphabet hard to learn, Djinaëte very hard to learn," Zarreniya stated.

"You say, Petu Restaran...that means first two letters be Pe Tu, yes?" Ikekiya asked, once again surprising Suhana. "Wow, your children really are fast learners, yet they look so little."

"We little. My sister is one and half years old, me two and half months newer," Zarreniya informed her.

"You mean younger, I think," Junelliya informed her daughter.

"I know, momma, I just tease Ikeki," Zarreniya informed her momma to a burst of laughter from Suhana.

"Please join me in my restaurant," Suhana invited them. "It is supposed to open for the public tomorrow but I can invite friends in."

"Does that include your sister?" another voice chimed in.

"Damy!" the children cried out and rushed to great her.

"How are my favourite little ones?" Damyanti asked of the children.

"You sister is newer than you," Zarreniya said with a saucy smile to Suhana. "You ask her that."

Suhana laughed and opened her arms to her elder sister as they greeted each other. It turned out that they hadn't seen each other for several years since Suhana's wedding.

"How is your husband doing?" Damayanti asked.

"He is getting grey hairs from this move," Suhana admitted. "But he will be pleased to see you again.

Suhana took them into the restaurant and the children cooed in surprise at the interior looking around with wide, bright eyes at all the colour and the images of the Hindu Gods.

"Wow, this is some restaurant," Hanalei exclaimed.

"We just hope that the people on this station will enjoy our spicy foods," Suhana replied to laughter from all the others.

"Anuuran foods are spicy," Damyanti assured her sister. "They will enjoy our food and so will many of those who have been invited to have supper with the Piscium family."

It turned out that Damayanti was right. The family did enjoy the food and the children got their first education in the Hindi alphabet.

L-1894 Piscium Apartment, Liramor-23, The Piscium System

Fayad had not wanted his family to move into the new apartment immediately because he was waiting for a special shipment from Liramor-23. The crate arrived eight days later and he had the shippers move it into the corner of the new living area and set it up. He was now ready to move his family.

He called up Hanalei. "Hi, honey. HR has just indicated the new apartment is ready. You can start moving our things to it now. I will send you some people to help."

"Thanks, Fayad. We will begin moving immediately. Any word on when Urano and Clarrisiya can move to their new apartments?" Hanalei asked.

"Yes, they can move today as well. Both of their new apartments are ready and Urano can start setting up the space for the new daycare. We were waiting for today's supply ship from Liramor Prime as it was scheduled to bring most of the equipment for the daycare," Fayad explained.

Not long after the door chimed and two people with gravity carts were there to help with the move. They packed as much as they could onto the carts and started the trek to the new abode. The door opened and the children ran inside all excited, the Cats just as excited.

It was Juneya who first saw the new item and flew over to it, calling out to the others. When they children turned to look, the could only coo with pleasure.

"Mommy!! A piano!" Zarreniya squeaked out.

The ladies all turned to look at what appeared to be a baby grand piano sitting in the corner of the living space. They hadn't initially seen it as their entry into the new abode had placed their backs to that corner.

"After we have moved, children. Otherwise we might never get moved today," Hanalei scolded playfully as the children ran their hands over it.

The children quickly sorted their things and placed them in their rooms. They were used to moving about with all the travelling they had done recently so putting things away was becoming second nature to them.

The ladies were sorting out the kitchen area, being helped by the extra hands provided by the station, and of course the children...

They made quick work of the two gravity carts and they all returned to their original apartment to pack up the carts yet again.

It took three trips to move their apartment over and then they sent the movers back to help Urano and Clarrisiya move.

The children were sad to see the two adults move out but they knew they would see them frequently in the new daycare, which was supposed to open soon.

As the family returned to their new apartment, Fayad arrived. "Honey, I'm home!" he called out. The children cheered and each grabbed a leg as he shuffled over to the dining area, the Cats jumping onto his shoulder as they gleefully rode on top of him until the children had reached the table.

"Daddy! We have a piano!" Zarreniya informed her father.

"Yes, it is a special gift for my family," Fayad told them getting screams of excitement from the children.

The family moved to the piano while Fayad flicked a button on it, activating the machine. He pressed another switch and the Piano rose up until an adult could sit at it. He then reversed the switch and it lowered to a sitting child height.

"You will have to find a good instructor online, or, with luck, we might get a piano teacher with the new families arriving on station. There is also going to be a piano similar to this one in the daycare and a larger model for the local University," he finished.

"But first...Fayea, come with me," Fayad held out his hand and Fayea run up to sit on it. Fayad moved to a corner of the room and raised his arm up. That was the first that the family saw the little house that Fayad had ordered for the Cats.

The 'Cathouse' was built on Hollander's Word, so the Cats were familiar with it. Fayea gave out a rather weird sound that the family had never heard before and jumped from Fayad's hand to a small platform on the front of the house. Almost immediately, Juneya and Hanaya landed beside him. The three curiously peaked into the house then chittered to each other.

The Cathouse was built on two levels with enough room for up to eight Cats to live in at once.

Juneya entered first, followed by Fayea, and then Hanaya. The family could hear the Cats scrambling around in their new nest, chittering happily. A few minutes later, Juneya jumped down onto Fayad's shoulder and rubbed his cheek, happily purring to him in thanks. The other two soon followed.

"They very happy," Ikekiya unnecessarily informed her father. He smiled at her and gave her a nod of his head.

Hanalei set up the new teapot and turned it on. Not long after, the family was sitting down to tea at their new dining table while the Cats were chasing after treats in the air. The family was happy to be in their new place.

************

The children had gone down for a nap while the adults talked around the dining table.

"A piano, Fayad," Hanalei asked.

"The children are worried about Ikekiya's dream," he answered. "I remember Junelliya saying once that music had been her solace during the times that the late Wassim Andjuran had been in control of the Church of Andanii. I'm hoping that the children can find solace in music as well."

"I still don't understand how Ikekiya was able to 'see' that future," Sylvie commented. "She is not supposed to see herself in the future."

"The dream isn't about herself, Sylvie, it is about Raymond," Hanalei stated. "She just happens to be there when the incident happens."

"What worries me the most is that the children seem to be unable to do anything to help Raymond in the dream. I think that is weighing heavily on Ikekiya and, as a consequence, on Zarreniya," Junelliya added.

"Do you think they will try something?" Violletiya asked.

"That's what worries me," Junelliya replied. "Free will must be allowed or we can drastically change the future. The children are very worried about Raymond. I see them trying something that will change the outcome. Shusshhttookkann warned us that interfering with free will change the future in ways detrimental to our desires. However, I don't see the children standing back and doing nothing. We shall have to be very careful of what they do until this incident is concluded..."

Conference Room Three, Military Control, Delta Deck, Liramor-23

Two days later, Fleet Admiral Fiona Marsh was conducting her morning briefing with her senior personnel. It had been just almost two weeks since they had returned from AsocAR and the mini Summit that they had attended there.

"OK, upcoming points of interest for our people, Heyya; Dr. Mirren should be back from vacation next week which is fortunate as you and I will be attending a special ceremony at Pallanders-4 Shipbuilding Station in the Punarjanm System.

"The Marines have commissioned a new class of vessel designed for battlefield medical work. It is loosely based on the Valour II Class ships but at thirty-eight meters is slightly longer, and at twelve meters is slightly wider. They have decided to call the new class the 'Margrave Class', after the first ship of the line, which will be named 'Dr. Heyya Margrave', taking their inspiration from a certain Dr. Heyya Margrave, Military Cross of Valour.

"Congratulations, Heyya, even I didn't get a ship class named after me," Fiona ended while the entire conference room broke into applause.

"You are permitted to bring up to twelve guests of your own for the ceremony so let me know soonest who you intend to bring," Fiona ordered.

VIP Reception, Pallanders-4 Shipbuilding Station, The Punarjanm System, One Hundred and Thirty-Two Light Years from Terra

The Valour II slid into the designated VIP Dock and settled onto its landing struts. As soon as the ship was shut down, the passengers moved out and into VIP reception where they were greeted by some very heavy VIP's including Wilford J. Holloway, the President of the Union, and Angelique Aubuchon, the First Lady, who greeted Heyya with hugs, the press watching closely and recording everything. To say that Heyya was surprised would be an understatement.

Heyya was in her best medical white Jumpsuit with her 'Marine' name tag on her right breast, her medals on her left breast and the gold bordered, blood red, Military Cross of Valour with its blood red ribbon around her neck. Heyya was introduced to the press by Fleet Admiral Fiona Marsh who said a few words about Heyya's career to date.

Heyya was congratulated on her upcoming honour by non-other than General Alex Drall, Commander of the Union Marines, who escorted her to the special hangar where such ceremonies took place, the guests, the press, and the hangers-on following behind.

The first thing that Heyya noted was the ship's nose was covered so that the name could not be seen. The ship was painted white with the traditional Red Cross on both sides of the hull.

It had 50mm Twin Gun Rail Gun turret on the Dorsal Deck and two hatches, larger than the standard ones, one near the bow the other near the stern. This was presumably for aiding in the transfer of patients. The ship was noticeably longer and wider to Heyya but that fit with its description. To Heyya's eyes, the ship was beautiful. But then, she was slightly biased.

The guests and the press entered the ceremonial hangar and stood to the port side of the ship, while General Drall brought Heyya down the port side to near the stern of her ship. A small reception line was in front of the rear hatch. Heyya was walked down the line to be introduced to them.

"Dr. Heyya, if I may introduce Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cdr.) James Seagrave, Captain of the ship and Maj. Dr. Samuel Lisse, commander of the Marine medical staff of the ship. Next in line is Lieutenant Commander Marion Plaudet, the ChEng of the ship.

After being greeted by the receiving line, the General walked Heyya to the bow of the ship to the right of the draped name. He made a short speech and Heyya pulled the cord which removed the covering over the name.

Heyya looked up to see the ship's name 'Dr. Heyya Margrave' with the ship's designation and number below; 'MHFS-10001'. Under the name was a representation of the Military Cross of Valour as the ship had started out as an armed fast ship of the Valour II Class.

After a moment, David Sprawl, retired Master Chief Petty Officer and now the representative for Pallanders-4 Shipyard, came forward and guided Heyya to a platform near the front of the ship.

Looking down from the platform at all the faces, Heyya smiled and waved to those that she knew.

She asked the President, the First Lady, and General Drall to join her on the platform for the naming ceremony. "I name this ship, the Dr. Heyya Margrave, first of her name and first of her line," Heyya called out.

The four people on the platform pulled at the lever above their heads. The lever triggered a spring which sent a wrapped bottle of sparkling wine on a string across to smash into the bow of the ship, breaking the bottle but not leaving any glass behind. The crowd cheered as the forward hatch near the bow opened and a ramp slid down to touch the deck of the hangar.

Lt. Cdr. Seagrave came forward and asked Dr. Heyya, the President, his First Lady, and General Drall, if they would like to tour the ship.

Heyya moved off the platform and into the crowd where she pulled Fiona, her father, and her mother out, along with her favourite media personality, Cynthia Stewart. The small group walked up the ramp, waving to the crowd as Cynthia dutifully recorded the event.

"Unlike most other Valour II or Trine Class ships, all the crew are quartered on the Second deck," Lt. Cdr. Seagrave was explaining. They saw that the crew each had their own quarters, which were surprisingly spacious for a smaller ship. The Captain's Quarters were near the Bridge and doubled as his Ready Room. Across the hall was an identical layout for the Chief Medical Officer, Maj. Dr. Samuel Lisse.

They moved forward into the bridge which had the standard bridge layout of the Valour II class ships with the Captain's Chair on the Captain's Balcony, slightly above the Navigation Technician, the Pilot, the combined Tactical/Weapons Officer in the horseshoe. Around the horseshoe was the Science Officer's position, a place for an engineering tech, and two spare multi-purpose stations. The Comms Officer was up on the balcony to the left of the Captain's Chair. Heyya noted that their was a second chair on the Captain's Balcony for a guest. She hoped that she could one day be that guest.

The Captain brought them down to the Triage Area, ahead of Wards One and Two, where they were greeted by Captain (Marine) Syrian Gamant, Nurse Practitioner and her staff of two. They were responsible for assessing the needs of the patients as they were brought aboard. The Triage area was broken into two parts, a large room were Triage was conducted, and another room across the hall which was the ship's morgue.

Captain (Marine) Dr. Claudet Rouner, the Lead of the first two wards, greeted them in front of Ward One. She had four people under her who worked both wards One and Two. This team was copied for Wards Three and Four.

The group moved to the first of the surgical suites to be greeted by Major Dr. Samuel Lisse, the ship's Head Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer. He and a staff of two were responsible for the necessary surgeries on patients in Surgery One after Triage. Each of the Surgeries had one surgeon and a staff of two.

They toured and met the staff of the other surgeries and wards then moved into the engineering space where they were met by the ChEng, Lieutenant Commander Marion Plaudet. She showed them the FTL engine, at least what they could see of it, and the control systems for the ship where she and her Engineer's Mate worked.

The Captain then brought them and the crew up to the first deck. At the front of the deck was a large theatre large enough to hold all of the crew and some guests. Then came the very well appointed gym and finally the combined mess, where food and drinks for the occasion were ready. They all picked up glasses of wine and the President toasted the new ship; "To the Dr. Heyya Margrave, may she serve the Marines as well as her namesake has." The President smiled to Heyya as he and the crew toasted Heyya.

Once the toast was completed, someone cleared their throat, causing Heyya to look over in surprise.

"Sgt. Thorstone!!" Marine Sergeant Ron Thorstone, had been one of the patients in her surgery during the Second Battle of Liramor-23. Heyya and her staff had quite literally saved his life. He was one of those who had been taken planet side due to the severity of his injuries.

"Good day, Dr. Heyya. I am pleased to be able to greet you in person," Ron said. "If it hadn't been for you and your staff, I would not be here now." He took hold of her hand as a tear ran down his cheek.

A surprised Heyya sent a burst of calm and reassurance to him as she took him into a hug. "It's what I do for a living, Ron. Though I am glad that I got to see at least one of you again."

"Mr. President," Ron said after a moment. "I and twenty other Marines were given into the care of Dr. Heyya and her staff during the Second Battle of Liramor-23. She worked miracles that day as she saved nineteen of us. Nine of us had to be sent planet side for some time, including two of my mates who did not survive their encounters with the pirates.

"I have been told that had it not for Dr. Heyya, we could have lost as many as twelve of us that day, instead of just two. That is why our Major gave that name tag to Dr. Heyya making her an unofficial Marine. It was our way of saying not only thank you but of acknowledging the work that Dr. Heyya and her staff did," the Sergeant ended.

"Thank you, Sergeant," the President said, shaking hands with the man. "It is nice to hear directly from those involved in the incident that they did indeed appreciate what others had done for them. This is the main reason that this ship was built.

"By the way, General Drall, has it been decided where this will ship will work out of?" The President asked.

"Actually, sir, we have decided that this ship will work out of Sector Fifty-Nine. She will become the responsibility of Fleet Admiral Fiona Marsh, sir." the General replied, giving Fiona a significant look.

David Sprawl entered the mess. "Dr. Heyya, if I can get you to pull open these curtains, please?" he asked.

Heyya opened the curtains to display the commissioning plaque, which usually denotes the crew of the first voyage of a ship. At the bottom of the plaque, her own name stood out:

Dr. Heyya Margrave, D. Med, MCV, DSCMS, MMB, GME

Director of Trauma Unit, Liramor-23 Hospital

In Perpetua Honorary Marine

Commissioned 5 October 2487

"If you wouldn't mind, Dr. Heyya, since we are going your way, I would like you to be part of the 'First Voyage'," Lt. Cdr. Seagrave stated, surprising Heyya.

"I think, I, uh, could do that," Heyya stammered, getting laughter and cheers from the crew.