Holding Up The Sky - Book II - Kolchab

by M. Wheels

Continuing the story begun in the book 'Thuban." Now what will "The Powers That Be" do with Colonel McQueen and Kylen? And how will these two people continue to deal with events that are outside their control?

13. Thirteen

(Thirteen)

16 March 2065

Marine Corps Logistics Base

Albany, Georgia

USA

1845

Exactly thirty-seven hours, forty-three minutes, and twenty-eight seconds after the military heavy launch vehicle carrying Colonel T.C. McQueen lifted off from Earth, en route to the Space Station Goddard, an ISSCV landed at Albany Logistics Base. Three hours, twenty-three minutes, and nineteen seconds later the Private on duty scanned the ID tag of one of the ninety-two footlockers that had been unloaded to facilitate the reroute to its final destination. All of the footlockers belonged to servicemen and women who had been shipped back home - or who had died. The device in the Private's hand automatically searched the system for the most recently listed next-of-kin/home address of the owner.

A label spat out.

Col. T.C. McQueen, USMC C/O Ridge Farm South Barre, MA 551076 -8539 USA.

McQueen's personal effects from the Saratoga had finally made their way back to Earth.