May 25, 009 SDE:
Countryman stretched as he slipped out of bed. Ruri was still sleeping beside him and he didn’t feel like waking her just yet. Reaching to the nightstand he tapped the base of the lamp. The room brightened instantly, while he gazed at the clock. It was more of a decoration than a requirement for him at this point, but it revealed the current time and date according to the ship’s clock; May 25, 009 SDE, 0700 hours. A little later than his usual wake up time but he wasn’t on shift today. A small smile graced his lips. Two days ago was the Day of Sorrows, and today was the big day, the Day he officially turned two hundred years old, the big two hundred, his bicentennial as it were. Something that it seemed the entire ship knew about.
At the moment, the Enterprise was patrolling the space near Anchorage. Since the Second Battle of the Lodge, they’d had little active role in the fighting. A few more destroyers had been completed and sold to the Drifters, but otherwise, things had been quiet for them.
The Drifters on the other hand had several active fleets and skirmishes had been reported across their shared borders. Recent news of battles across the storm had reached them. Some of them detailing battles at outposts he’d never heard of. The Drifters had even sent a relief fleet to their ally the Cooperative. Forces the Raythil desperately needed as they’d lost a lot of ground against the combined onslaught of the Raiders and the Dregari. So far that remained the case and he did have forces on alert in case the Raiders tried another assault on Anchorage.
By now they had a fairly effective patrol group scheme. Each patrol was anchored by a squadron of fighters. Two gunboats outfitted for long range patrol, and supplies for the fighters. A Vulcan was on station for every two patrol squadrons. Allowing for a heavier ship to respond when required. Combined with their new sensors, these patrols were proving quite effective.
Energy use across the fleet was going up however, and that was a cause for concern. Fuel remained one of their long term concerns, but Countryman felt they had at least found their feet here. More cause to celebrate, he knew the ship planned a celebration for the day and he honestly felt like celebrating himself. He’d finally made it to see his second century. Better yet, while things were a long way from settled, it felt like that after nine years they were finally starting to make a home for themselves out here. The mission remained but only time would tell what fate had in store for them.
Countryman glanced at Ruri, the mother of his child and smiled. She looked so cute sleeping, it was hard to picture her as the socially clueless old woman she really was. Not many people would label him as an old man either however. Modern medicine and its wonders never ceased to amaze him and the very longevity it provided was one of the things they relied on. For a moment he let himself picture the future, free of the storm, the Enterprise retired to defensive duties, and he had a nice brick house on a hill overlooking a nice grassland with a forest and river nearby. Several other houses nearby, a villa where his family lived. The fields near the villa are rich in crops, while the children, some of them his own, played without a care in the world and a blue sky over their heads. A fantasy perhaps, but one that felt more probable today than it ever had in the last nine years. Four years ago he’d made a mistake but things were looking up since that day.
Taking a breath, he left the room walking down the short hall to the main room. Where he found Rose already up and cooking breakfast. “Morning, I’m about done making breakfast. If you could wake the others, we can eat.”
Countryman nodded and headed back to the room to wake Ruri and Rika. What followed was a pleasant breakfast with his family. He spent most of it spoiling Rika with a bit of attention, and when the food was gone, he spoke up, “So Rose?”
“Yes?”
“With the whole ship celebrating my birthday, I’ve been thinking it might be nice to visit the arboretum as a family. Think Rika might be up for some family bonding?”
Ruri blinked, “I have projects in the lab!”
He chuckled, “Oh, so you caught the implication? Don’t worry I figured I’d spend tomorrow in the lab with you. I’ve already cleared my schedule, Greyman can pick up the slack and if he really needs me, he’ll know where I will be.”
She blinked, “A day in the lab with? Really!?”
Excited, she hugged him. Countryman smiled, he knew she’d like that and telling her now would make her more willing to put up with the family bonding trip. Something he was doing primarily for Rika. Now that she was walking and running, she was getting to the age that she needed them more than ever, not for changing her diaper and getting her food but for critical development. Moments like these would be ones they would cherish forever.
Hours later they arrived together at the Arboretium. One of several on the ship actually, this particular one was the largest. It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust to the brighter light, and then he took in the gardens. Stout trees and flower fields had been placed strategically, a metal walking path led to the center of the place. A circular courtyard with rows of benches, a picnic area and a large fountain. Overhead special lighting simulated the effects of the sun at midday, while holographic generators provided the illusion of a blue sky over their heads.
They were not the only family here, as plenty of children were running around under the watchful eyes of their mothers, sisters, or other caretaker. Rika lit up the moment she saw the place and ran to join them. Countryman chuckled, “Have fun!”
Rose with a bag of toys in hand ran after them, a smile on her face as well. She’d fit right in, and make sure Rika was safe. He looked at Ruri, “Surely you can enjoy being out of the lab for a day? Stretch your legs and watch the kids play?”
She sighed, “I’d really like to keep cracking at my projects. Vera’s been doing some really nice work with her reactive armor, and that reactor project of hers has untold potential. I’ve even had some ideas about modifying the main beam arrays to take advantage of the sheer power we could be capable of generating.”
Countryman sighed, “I understand all that, but you’ll never arrive at an answer if you don’t take a break. I’ve been watching you and you are starting to fray, take a break, then go back in with fresh eyes, you’ll thank me.
“I guess,” she replied, clearly not entirely happy to be here. Countryman knew she was starting to burn out and she did need the break. He needed one as well, and already he was happy to be off the bridge. Sometimes he just needed to do something else and right now seemed like a good time for it.
A familiar face slipped into view, then came over, “Hey captain! Visiting the garden as well?”
“Sure am,” he replied addressing Sali, “How’s the pilot branch treating you?”
She grinned, “It’s been wonderful! I’ve really enjoyed being able to fly again.”
Countryman responded, “I’ve heard, White and Fujiwari have nothing but good things to say about you.”
“Think that comes with a promotion?”
“It just might, keep at it.”
Someone familiar came over, “Ah there you are... Captain! What brings you to the garden?”
He looked over Sali’s roommate, Amelia Cutter, she was dressed in a modest party dress much like Sali. “I came to enjoy an outing with my family.” He gestured towards the kids playing tag. “My daughter is over there, and seems to be fitting well enough.”
Amelia gestured at her swelling belly. “I guess I’ll be doing that soon enough as well.” She frowned, “And I guess I’m in the market for a new place too.”
“Well having a baby does qualify you for a family unit.”
Sali interjected, “I tested positive myself. I’ll be in the market again as well.”
Countryman commented, “Have you considered pooling your resources? It will be easier to get a unit if the two of you plan to share.”
Sali frowned, “I didn’t think of that, but I wanted to move in with Robert.”
Amelia sighed, “I wish I had that option.”
Sali gave her a look, “Why not? Can’t you move in with your...”
Amelia shook her head, “I got pregnant at a party, and there was alcohol involved. I’m not even sure whose baby it is.”
Sali blinked, “Oh, sorry but weren’t you dating Ensign Utah? I thought it was his.”
Amelia sighed, “Didn’t I tell you?”
Countryman chuckled to himself as he listened. Ruri gazed off at Rika playing.
Sali frowned, “Tell me what?”
Amelia looked away, “It didn’t work out.”
“Oh...” responded Sali before trailing off.
Ruri suddenly interjected, “Well if Robert is a good male, the two of you can share him.”
The pair blushed and Countryman sighed, “This again?”
“What? It’s not like there is going to be a surplus of males. Females are going to have to share.”
“I can’t take you anywhere can I? First Vera, now this, what’s next?”
Ruri just blinked.
Amelia interjected, “Oh that sounds juicy, what happened?”
“I invited Vera into our bed, it was wonderful! Maybe we will give birth at the same time?”
The other two turned thoroughly red, then Amelia said, “See, I told you! You should have given the Captain a chance.”
“Gods no! I told you, he’s practically my grandfather.”
“And I told you that’s no reason to ignore a good thing.”
Countryman sighed, and then forcefully changed the subject, “So are you girls going to be at the party later today?”
Amelia nodded, “Sure am. I’d be a fool to turn down free cake.”
Sali interjected, “It’s practically a festival, have you been to the markets? They’ve really dressed the place up, a complete change from just two days ago.”
Amelia commented, “Of course it is, but a welcome one. Two days ago we mourned, now we get to celebrate something. It’s a nice change from last year, maybe we should do this next year?”
Countryman commented, “I’d be 201, next year, it doesn’t have the same ring that two hundred has, maybe in fifty years?”
The girls giggled, “Right, right, it doesn’t really have the same ring.”
Countryman led the group over to a table, and they started chatting, idly listening to the children play in the gardens, the only thing missing was the sound of birds singing.
The hours whiled away, and then Countryman joined his family in the markets where the real festival was going on. People filled the stalls offering out sweets and other party goods, while dancing and music filled the street. They were celebrating not just his 200th year but so much more. Two days ago was the Day of Sorrows, a day of mourning in which they mourned the loss of an entire planet. But today they celebrated their continued survival, the hopes of their future and the fact they had not only survived but made a home out here amongst the stars.