King and Queen of Hearts – A Space: Above and Beyond Story
Inspired by the anime series' Mobile Fighter G Gundam, The Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, Cowboy Bebop, and Outlaw Star; additional dramatic and comical elements are taken from movies such as Top Gun, Love, Rosie, Independence Day, Bubble Boy, and An Officer and a Gentleman as well as the slice-of-life aviation novel West of the Rock by A. Mark Marchione.
Chapter 6: "Queen of What?"
July 9, 2064
The space battle carrier USS Saratoga
58th Marine Corps Space Fighter Squadron – Ready Room
1100 Hours
The "Wildcards" sat in the front row of seats in the Ready Room. Nathan was in the center with Shane on his left side and Cooper to his right. Hawkes taking position to West's right signified his status as operational Second-in-Command as mandated by the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) within the squadron. To Hawkes's right sat Vanessa and Kazuo. To Vansen's left sat Kelsey and Ben. Oddly enough, Vanessa could not help but to occasionally use her peripheral vision to stare at Kazuo who reminded her of Paul Wang, her closest friend and "lover-to-be" who was killed in action a little over a month ago prior to being stranded with Shane on the planet Rozaria. The time was already shifting into midday, and all of the 'Cards hoped to get their chow at the Officers' Wardroom after this special "quarters" (all-squadron mandatory meeting), which was to be administered by Colonel McQueen.
All of a sudden, Nathan yelled, "ATTENTION ON DECK!" The pilots stood up as Colonel McQueen and Commodore Ross entered the room. The commodore had been brought in to witness the special ceremony that was about to take place and, possibly, throw in his usual rhetoric of encouragement towards the best squadron in the ship, let alone the fleet. "At Ease!" McQueen ordered the squadron as they relaxed their postures while remaining on their feet. He took his position behind the podium in front of them while the commodore stood beside the white planning board to the left of the spectators' view.
"Good Morning, Wildcards!" he greeted the squadron.
"GOOD MORNING, SIR!" the squadron yelled out in unison with confidence better than the past few days since Vansen and Damphousse returned to the carrier to an unexpected heroines' welcome home.
Colonel McQueen proceeded to recite his speech for the ceremony:
"Wildcards, you are gathered here today to welcome back two of the finest pilots in the squadron: Captain Shane N. Vansen and First Lieutenant – no, scratch that – Captain-Select Vanessa E. Damphousse. Please give them a round of applause for their much-needed commendation for their initiative as those that had made a significant difference in the current theater of war as well as their continued commitment to our nation's beloved Corps!"
The squadron clapped and quickly had their voices ascend to a standing ovation that was overheard by other personnel outside of the Ready Room. They stopped their cheers as McQueen raised and waved his hand. He continued:
"With that aside, I would like for one of them to head out front. Captain Vansen, Front and Center!"
Shane stepped out of the row, marched in a steadily and orderly fashion, halted in front of the podium, and performed an about face to face opposite the squadron. While this was going on, Nathan relieved Colonel McQueen's position behind the podium as the latter took out a patch from the right zippered breast pocket of his black flight suit.
Nathan recited his speech during the ceremony:
"Captain Shane Vansen, by the order of the Commanding Officer of the United States Navy Space Battle Carrier USS Saratoga, Read Admiral (Lower Half) Glen J. Ross, as well as Commanding Officer, 58th Marine Space Fighter Squadron, Lieutenant Colonel Tyrus C. McQueen, you are hereby re-designated with a brand new call-sign. As of today, July 9th, the Year of Our Lord 2064, you are no longer the 'Queen of Diamonds' but are, rather, bestowed a new designation as the 'Queen of Hearts' in the 'Wildcards' squadron. You are to use this newly appointed tactical name in future operations from this day on. Congratulations, and thank you for your continued service in the Marine Corps. Signed, Commodore Ross, US Navy."
Colonel McQueen marched smartly and turned in front of Shane. He then presented her with the patch he kept in his suit.
"Congratulations on a job well done, Captain Vansen," the colonel declared as he shook Shane's hand with the right and gave her the "Queen of Hearts" patch with the left, Shane taking the patch with her left hand.
"Thank you, Sir!" Shane replied in recognition of her achievement. McQueen performed an about face and marched to take back his position behind the podium. Nathan marched off the podium smartly to return to a standing position in front his seat.
"Captain Vansen, you may return to your seat!" the colonel commanded as Shane then marched back to the front of her seat next to Nathan. McQueen then continued his brief speech, "Well, Wildcards. That was it. Vansen was re-designated with a new operational codename." He turned to Commodore Ross and asked, "Sir, you have anything for the squadron?"
"Nothing, Colonel. That is, other than my most sincere congratulations to Captain Vansen and Captain-Select Damphousse, nothing much except keep up the good work, People," Ross replied as he motioned towards the whole squadron. A thought suddenly popped in his head.
"Oh, and one more thing: On the 16th of this month, we will head to our port of call back at the space city of Bacchus!" he added. All of the "Wildcards" shouted their "WHOO-HOO's" as they clapped and threw their fists in the air. They stopped as the colonel raised his palmed "Stop" signal.
"Liberty call will last for 4 days. Unfortunately, guess who has the first 2 days worth of duty while on anchor: You do! So, make sure that you get all of your administrative tasks squared away for those first couple of days before having your fun in the city," he added further as he pointed to the squadron. The pilots softly groaned from that bit of disappointment.
Colonel McQueen made his closing remarks, "That will be all, People. Carry on!"
"ATTENTION ON DECK!" Nathan shouted as the whole squadron snapped to attention and Commodore Ross left the room followed by Colonel McQueen. As soon as the "old men" left the room, all of the pilots went wild with another round of cheers and high-fives.
"So, Shane, my felicitation goes out to you, Your Royal Highness!" Cooper joked as he rendered a lazy "peace salute" towards Shane.
"Come on, Coop. Give it a rest."
"Fair enough. But, wait, if Nate is the King of Hearts, then that must mean-"
"Hawkes, don't even go there. I'm warning you!" Shane retorted, annoyed, as Phousse, Kazuo, Kels, and Ben jeered upon their appalled reaction. She then walked out of the room with Phousse and headed to the Wardroom for their afternoon chow. Nathan's face turned crimson with slight embarrassment. Cooper then turned to him, extended his right arm, and said, "Well, Cap. The best man won. You got the cake. Congratulations." Nathan slightly looked away from and shook his head.
"Cooper, I never looked at it as if we were both after her in the first place."
"Aw, come on, Nathan! She's always had her eyes on you as I used to have mine on her. It's only fair game that you, as the King for your Queen, take the cake. I mean, you both have corresponding designations underneath the same symbol now. I'm sure you're happy for her about that to some degree, right, Best Bud?"
"Yeah, but only as her closest friend. Nothing more," Nathan calmly retorted as he faced Cooper. "Nevertheless, though, I'll accept your congratulations on her behalf," he said as he shook Cooper's hand. Cooper then excitedly transitioned his handshake into a gangster hug. "West, I love you, Man. I fuckin' love you. You and Vansen!"
"Yeah, alright, Hawkes. That's enough," Nathan muttered as he kept his composure while being caught in a suffocating yet playful brotherly hug by Coop. He then turned towards the new 3 pilots and announced, "Alright, Nuggets. It's time for chow. Let's go!"
Kazuo, Kelsey, and Benny cheered as they followed their 2 veteran flight leads out of the Ready Room to the Officers' Mess.