Tales From The Space Force Pt. 02

He brought it back to their quarters and swapped out some things from his old enlisted dress uniform that were also worn on the officers, then added the new stuff. Then he stuffed it back in the garment bag to keep it clean. He checked the time, then he headed to the dining hall to meet Evelyn for lunch.

She smiled as he walked in and sat down with her. "Well, did they have a uniform?"

He nodded yes, "I was kind of hoping they didn't and maybe they wouldn't let me go."

Evelyn grinned, "Fat chance sweetheart."

He nodded grinning, "I know, but I can hope, can't I?"

She squeezed his hand, "My poor baby, how about we eat, then we can go back to our quarters and I'll see if I can't take your mind off it."

Lucas grinned and squeezed her hand back, "How about we see if we get can get it to go?"

Monday morning, they all met at the transport docking bay. They talked with Evie's friend Steve, who was going to be their pilot. He joked with her, "If you get bored on the trip home Evie, you can come up and fly this thing for a while."

Evelyn smiled shaking her head, "No, I don't think so, I've had enough flying the last week or so to keep me good for a while."

Then she gave him an evil grin, "Besides, no self-respecting fighter pilot would even think of flying something as slow and clunky as a transport. They'd pull my quals."

Steve laughed, "You fighter jocks are all alike, and here I thought you were my friend."

Once they got the transport loaded with other things Steve was bringing back to earth, all the passengers got on. They all sat in the passenger compartment between the pilot's station and the cargo hold.

Lucas fastened his safety belt and remarked, "Well, at least this is more comfortable then the troop transport I flew on to here."

Evelyn nodded, "Yes it is, I hated the troop ship. It was made more for the marines in full gear, it felt like I was bent over the whole flight."

They all got comfortable and Lucas sighed to himself, it was going to be a long flight, about 12 hours, give or take. But it beat how long it took the original astronauts making the same journey 150 years ago. Theirs had been like 2 or 3 days if he remembered right, and nowhere as comfortable as they were now. Evelyn pushed up the arm rest between them, then twined her arm in his as she leaned against him. She smiled at him, "This is going to be a long flight."

Lucas grinned, "I was just thinking that myself. But at least were together."

Steve's voice came over the intercom, "We'll be leaving shortly, just as soon as flight command gives us clearance. So, sit back and make yourself comfortable."

About ten minutes later, he came back on, "Clearance has been granted. Everyone stay seated please and prepare for takeoff."

They felt the ship taxi away from the loading dock, then they took off. The gravity-equalizers compensated for any G-forces and the next thing they knew; they were off on the way home.

A couple hours into the flight, Steve came back as his copilot took over so he could stretch his legs. He checked to make sure they were all okay, stopping to talk to the colonel to update him. He made a quick tour of the ship to make sure everything was normal, then headed back to the pilot's station.

Lucas looked around, much like an airliner he had been on, once they were in steady flight, they could move around and the seats had built-in monitors so they could read or watch an entertainment vid if they wanted.

So, during the long flight, Lucas and Evelyn watched a couple vid's together, slept a little, ate and drank a bit of what they brought with them. There were standard space rations if they wanted, but even though they weren't all that bad, they just ate what they brought with them.

Lucas had laughed when the copilot came around to pass them out. Once he told her they didn't want any, Lucas said to Evelyn, "I remember my dad brought home some of the type they had in the Navy. These are better, but if I don't have to eat them, I won't."

Evelyn nodded back, "I haven't tried one since you did my upgrade, but I didn't want to try either." She grinned, "I didn't to ruin how much I've enjoyed eating again."

Finally, Steve announced they had arrived and were just waiting for landing authorization. "It shouldn't be long. I've only picked up on a couple other ships. So, everyone please strap back in and prep for landing."

They all stowed everything and strapped themselves back in and waited. After about ten minutes, they heard, "Authorization has been granted, going to landing mode."

Then shortly, they were on the ground and proceeding to the docking bay. Once the docking umbilical had been connected, and the ship shut down, Steve and his copilot came back and opened the hatch for them.

Everyone got up and the colonel turned and said to them, "They're putting us all up in a hotel they use for transients. The meeting and ceremony after, is on Wednesday, so you have the rest of tonight and tomorrow to yourselves. We'll meet for breakfast that morning and the shuttle will take us over after that."

He smiled, "Enjoy yourselves."

Lucas stood and felt slightly funny as he lost his balance. Evelyn caught him and asked, "What's the matter?"

He shook his head, "I'm not sure."

Steve was watching and grinned, "I think your being affected by the heavier gravity Lucas."

He looked at him and shook his head to clear it, "I think your right Steve, I haven't been in normal gravity for eighteen months give or take."

Steve nodded, "You'll be all right in a few, just take it slow until you get used to it again."

Evelyn held his arm as they walked into the main building. The major saw them and smiled, "What happened, slightly gravity sick?"

Lucas grinned and nodded, "I think so major, it's getting better though. I haven't been in normal gravity for eighteen months or so."

She nodded, "It happens to me all the time since I don't get back here a lot." She laughed, "It's almost like being seasick."

They made it out to the shuttle, then Haruki smiled and said to them, "Well, I guess I'll see you sometime later, the company has put me up in another hotel. Evelyn, tell your mother and father I said hello, I'll more than likely see you all at the meeting and afterwards. I don't know if I'll be able to sooner until I check in with the company."

They nodded and Lucas shook his hand, then Evelyn gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek.

Then they joined the others in the shuttle and they headed to the hotel. It wasn't that long of a ride, but it was still strange to Lucas after being off-world for a year and a half. It was amazing to see all the colors, things growing, the air seemed thick as he breathed and it smelled wonderful. Plus, add to that, all the people. He looked at Evelyn, "I feel like a tourist."

Evelyn nodded, "I know, I haven't been back almost the same amount of time."

The colonel grinned as he heard them, "It is a bit strange; it affects everyone like that. If we keep the base as it is, I think we should let the people have a week or two leave every six months or so to come back and visit."

They all agreed with that, then the colonel added, "Oh, something else I forgot to mention, those of you that have family coming, they've been put up at the same hotel. They should already be there."

All the people with family smiled at that news. Then about ten minutes later, they pulled up to the hotel and unloaded, then made their way into the lobby.

Both Lucas and Evelyn grinned as they saw their parents. Hugs, kisses and handshakes were given and received, then Evelyn introduced Lucas to her parents, "Lucas, this is my mom and dad, Tracy and Kenji Saito."

Lucas smiled and bowed slightly, "It's a pleasure to meet you both, Evelyn has told me so much about you both."

Kenji smiled, "It's a pleasure to meet you also Lucas, Evelyn has done the same. I'm happy to meet the man who stole my little girls' heart."

Lucas smiled back, "Actually sir, I think it was mutual."

Her mother smiled at him, she liked the way he looked and acted around her daughter. And a blind man could see how much they doted on one another. "Yes, our daughter has always had good taste."

Then Lucas introduced her to his parents, "Evelyn, this is my mother and father, Ellen and Jason Torson."

Evelyn smiled; she could see where Lucas got his good looks from, his father was a very handsome man. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucas talks about you all the time. And I can see where Lucas got his good looks from sir."

Jason grinned at her, "The pleasure is all ours Evelyn, he also told us about you. We're very happy that you two are together."

Then he smiled, "At least he has someone to keep him straight and out of trouble now."

Ellen grinned as she gave Evelyn a hug and kissed her cheek. "I agree, you seem like someone who can either kiss him or give him a kick in the butt if he needs it."

Evelyn grinned as she hugged his mother back, "Well, so far, it's been more kissing than kicking." She grinned at Lucas, "I sort of like the kissing better."

Lucas grinned back, then said, "Let us check in and then why don't you all come up and join us so we can visit and talk some more."

They nodded agreement and the families talked together while they checked in. Once they finished, they came back over and saw the colonel talking to them. He smiled as he saw them, "All checked in?"

Lucas nodded, "Yes sir, not a problem."

The colonel smiled and turned to Lucas's father, "You must be proud of your son sir, I understand you were a Chief while you were in the Navy."

Jason smiled, "Yes, I most definitely am proud of him. But, when all is said and done, since he is an officer, I might have to disown him."

The colonel laughed at that, "Does it help if I told you he still acts like a Senior Sergeant? And he really wasn't given the choice, plus he asks almost every other day, if I could bust him down."

His father grinned, "That's okay then, I won't disown him."

The all laughed at that, then the colonel said, "Well, I need to head up, you all enjoy yourselves."

They went up to their room, and went in, then Lucas and Evelyn stowed their things in the bedroom. The rooms were nice, they had a bedroom, living room with a small kitchen area, and the bathroom. Pretty much like their quarters back on the moon, but way nicer. While they were in there, he asked her, "Do we tell them about us? Or do you want to wait until we decide when?"

She kissed him, "Let's just tell them, we're going to anyhow, even if it takes a bit."

They all sat down to talk and Evelyn's father said, "Lucas, I understand you were trained by Haruki Nakamura. I know him well, I worked with him occasionally back in Japan before we moved."

Lucas smiled, "Yes sir I was, you'll see him day after tomorrow, or since he knows you're here, he might stop by, he has talked about you and your wife. He was with us at moon base and arrived with us, but he said your company had set him up at another hotel. "

Kenji smiled, "That's wonderful, we haven't seen him in a while, since Evelyn's accident actually."

Evelyn smiled, "He's still the same father, maybe a little worse." She grinned, "He still treats me like his favorite niece." Then she grinned, "And Lucas like an adopted son."

His mom smiled, "Yes, Lucas used to tell us about that. We've never met him either, but Lucas always had something good to say about him."

They talked a little more, then Lucas took Evelyn's hand, "Before we go any farther, we have something to tell you all." He took a deep breath, "We've decided to make our relationship permanent and get married."

The four parents looked at them, then they all smiled. The next thing Lucas and Evelyn knew, they were being crushed by all the hugs they gave them. Evelyn's and Lucas's mothers both wiped tears from their eyes. Then Tracy said, "That is wonderful, I'm so happy for the both of you. Do you know when yet?"

Then Ellen added, "And where?"

They shrugged, then Evelyn said, "We're not sure yet. If we do it now, Space Force has a rule against spouses serving together at moon-base. So, we've got three choices, we continue as we are till our tour is done, we marry and one of us askes for a transfer, or we both ask for a transfer and get married."

Lucas nodded, "Right now, we're leaning towards the first choice, we've both got about a year and a half left on our tour."

They all felt bad for them, but they also said they thought it sounded like the best way. Then Lucas's dad said, "The military always has some weird rules that makes sense to someone and some that make sense if you know why." He thought for a moment, "But, I'd say they have the rule because your basically in a possible combat zone, we had a similar rule in the Navy."

Lucas nodded, "That's what we figured also dad, but what we don't see, is the difference between what we're doing now and if we got married. Nothing would really change except a piece of paper, even the colonel called it archaic."

His father laughed, "You mean you haven't realized yet how long it takes to get things done? There's probably things still on the books from the 19th century."

They talked some more about different things, how people they knew were doing and the typical things you talk about and ask when you haven't seen someone in while.

Then Evelyn's father asked, "We don't hear much that's going on, how is it dealing with the Vagan's? I understand some of them are going to be here for the ceremony."

Lucas's father nodded, "We hear they sort of keep to themselves."

Evelyn smiled at him, "They did, that is until your son decided to go visit them."

They looked at Lucas who blushed, "You know, I wish people wouldn't make such a big deal because of that."

Jason grinned; he knew his son hated to have a fuss made. He got it honestly, he was the same way. "So? You going to tell us?"

Lucas shrugged, "Not much to tell dad, I had a problem and needed an answer. Since most of our tech comes from them, I went to talk to... my Vagan counterpart at the time. He helped me and in turn I helped him, then we had lunch and we became friends. His name is Oberon."

Lucas smiled, "They're really not much different than us at base level."

Evelyn sighed, "He does that all the time, he shrug's things off. It was really because of him, we finally started to work together. My flight partner in the battle was a Vagan named Saibai, we worked well together."

Lucas shrugged again, "It really isn't that big of a deal, I'm sure you've all seen this before. The normal level people get along fine, it's at the upper levels that problems happen."

Evelyn's dad nodded, "Your right son, we had that when we were learning from them, we got along very well with them."

Jason nodded also, "It was much the same for me when I was in dealing with other navies and people. The average person can always find common ground if they try."

They talked for a bit more, than their parents took them out to dinner. Lucas and Evelyn enjoyed their meal, thought it did take a bit to get used to real food instead of what they normally ate.

Evelyn's mom asked her smiling, "How are you doing dear? I guess it's nice to be able to taste your food once again."

Before she could answer, Lucas grinned, "She's very happy, but I have to still keep on eye on her to make sure she doesn't overeat. She has gotten better though."

Evelyn grinned, "It's wonderful, though it did take a little getting used to at first. I need things a little stronger to enjoy them."

She grinned at Lucas, "Isn't that right dear?"

Lucas almost choke as he tried to swallow remembering another conversation along that line. He nodded, "Yes, that certainly is."

His dad looked at them both and tried not to smile, "There had to be some type of story there for Lucas to act like that." He said to himself.

Once they finished dinner, they went back to the hotel. They sat and talked for bit once they got back, mainly about what they wanted to do the following day. They finally came to a decision and they decided to meet for breakfast in the morning.

Lucas and Evelyn went back to their room and relaxed for a while. They surfed through the various channels on the TV looking for something to watch. Back on moon-base, they didn't have much to watch, they did pick up a few satellite feeds so they were able to watch some of the different shows.

Finally, they decided to head to bed as it had been a long day. Luckily, when they checked in, Lucas had remembered to ask for a Cyborg equipped room. So, the bed was outfitted with a recharge unit and the other items Evelyn needed were in the bath room.

It was Wednesday morning and they were all meeting for breakfast. Yesterday, they went sightseeing with their parents and since Evelyn's parents live near here because that's where Yamato had their offices, they took them all around to some places they knew of. Lucas had been stationed here at the old NASA site, now the Space Force Command, and the hotel was near there. But he never went around sightseeing much and neither had Evelyn when she was here for a bit waiting to transfer to moon-base, as the old NASA site was also the main base for the fighter units.

Once they all finished breakfast, their parents, along with some of the other guests went back to their rooms until it was time to go to the ceremony. The others were shuttled to the command center for the meeting they needed to attend.

The meeting was more of an informal debrief, as everything was discussed. Mainly they just wanted to get everyone's take on the whole operation so it wasn't to bad. Lucas had always hated big meeting like this and luckily, Colonel Thorson always like informal meetings where everyone was free to discuss things and felt comfortable doing it. This one was slightly more formal than those, but not really bad. The people from moon-base were there, the General and his staff, plus a few others from other branches. Besides those, there were a few people from Yamato, besides Haruki, a few people from the Japanese Defense Force and Public Security Section-9 and a few from the NSA, CIA, and FBI. Basically, it was everyone involved from start to finish.

After they had talked for a while and got the current status from everyone, the general had stood, "First, I'd like to thank everyone for coming here. Many things were accomplished and almost perfectly. From the people actually on the front lines, to the ones figuring out things here. I'm very proud of all of you, between us and our allies, we stopped what could have been disaster for us and our allies on both the moon-base and here on earth."

"The Vagan's will also be here later for the ceremony, but I've been informed by them that the Phoban fleet, that turned and retreated, main objective was to attack this facility, the three capitols and the Triumvirate facility, plus targets amongst our allies in Europe and Asia."

Then he smiled, "But that didn't happen due to the plan though up by a onetime Space Force Sergeant, now Captain and a few others from both moon-base and here. Thank you captain Torson for all that you did and came up with."

Lucas turned red as he was singled out and everyone started clapping.

The general smiled, "Yes, he is worthy of applause, because not only was it his idea, he and his people were the ones who found the original problem with our new fighters and saved countless other lives by doing that."

He smiled, "I see we've embarrassed him, so I'll stop now. But captain, it is people like you, that I have always enjoyed leading, you do your job well, and when you think you can help you do. People like you never want or expect honors and accolades, your service is your reward along with hopefully saving lives. You have done all this and more."