Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Six Months Later
Renn questioned whether a brand new starship should be entrusted to a newly-appointed captain, but when he was assured there was no mistake, he didn’t complain, especially when he saw his ship for the first time.
As soon as it was official for him to captain the vessel, Seraphim, he appointed Nate as his first officer and for the next several weeks they planned and selected the rest of their crew.
Nate may not have held the title of “Captain,” but his list of achievements over the last few years was notable.
Perhaps the most impressive was the improvement of the function of a number of virtual devices across the entire association.
He was still receiving daily praise for the enhancements he made to the language translator.
Renn was intentional in selecting a variety of new and veteran officers—a mix of the new and the experienced. He believed each could offer the other something of value.
“Please for the love of God, tell me you have a good reason for that,” Nate had asked, pointing to Lieutenant Colin Locke’s picture on the crew’s roster.
“Two reasons. Grey strongly suggested that he report to me, and I think, knowing our history, it comes down to the fact I can keep in line. Second, I had already been considering it without his recommendation.”
“Right, right. The whole, keep your friends close and enemies closer.”
The pair strolled the Seraphim after getting a tour of all the features from the design and construction teams. Now there were only the two of them on the impressive vessel.
The crew was scheduled to arrive in half an hour, so they made the most of the peace and quiet before it would be non-stop for the next three years.
They both were looking forward to the fast pace and new adventures they would get to experience.
Nate had taken on the task of not only first officer, but lead IT engineer—the latter role he could probably manage in his sleep.
The one area the tour didn’t show them was the captain’s quarters.
Renn was granted special privileges on the designs of his living accommodations.
If his career as a captain went as most did, he would spend his entire professional career aboard this ship, and if things went extremely well in this first mission, he could keep his crew together for as long as he was able.
It had been proven that the best crews were the ones who had spent the longest time together—essentially becoming a family.
Renn’s requests for his captain’s quarters was not the typical design most chose. Instead of clean glossy surfaces, he wanted warmth and texture.
“It looks like Armstrong Hall,” Nate said, surprised when he entered the quarters.
“I’m glad you remembered. I needed something homey.” Renn folded his arms, pleased with how everything turned out. They plopped onto the comfortable couches, lounging and chatting while, out the window, they began to observe the shuttles making their way toward the ship.
“It’s really happening . . . after all these years.
” Nate stared, his eyes bright with excitement.
He turned to Renn, who held that same elation and awe, knowing that, in the aftermath of years of hard work and hardship, he was standing on his own vessel—a captain, just as he was always meant to be.
“Are you nervous?” Nate had asked that same question their first time at The Academy, and his answer was the exact same as it was that day.
“Not at all.” Renn winked, and there was no holding back his wide grin from his best friend—his brother.
“Glad to hear some things never change.”
Renn clapped him on the shoulder, grateful to share not only this moment, but so many significant moments with Nate; and no doubt the many more to come as they journeyed into the vastness of space once again.
“So, Captain Anton, what is this first order of business?”
“Let’s go meet the crew, shall we?”
Nate nodded and turned to leave, but Renn took one final look at his home planet before following.
And when he watched Earth fade away, he had a strange feeling that if he never saw the planet again, he wouldn't miss it. Earth was never his home, it was the people in his life that had always held that for him.
He would look back on this moment, when he found that exact meaning of the word once morem in the person he had not yet met.