The Rise before the Fall
Chapter 8: Hail To The Heroes
As the airlock opened and the stairs descended, Aisha could see what must have been around five thousand people standing around the space dock cheering. Space port officials stood at the bottom of the stairs waiting to greet the heroes. Aisha led her crew down the stairs. With every step they took the cheers got louder and louder. And when the excitement of the moment over took her, the captain of the Al Tigaro Tigaro waved to the crowd and it erupted in thunderous applause and cheers. She scanned the crowd as she waved, her eyes finally settling on the officials below who were talking amongst themselves, pointing at her and shaking their heads. She knew immediately what they were saying. Such behavior was unbecoming a Ctarl Ctarl officer. She quickly lowered her hand and steeled her expression.
Once at the bottom of the stairs, Aisha headed over to the first official in line. She saluted then shook his hand, side stepping she did the same with the next, then the next; accepting their congratulations and giving honor to the Empire. Her senior officers did the same; while the junior officers, enlisted personnel and soldiers lined up behind them.
Once everyone had taken their positions, Rear Admiral Kotiro Como Como stepped out from the line of officials and up to the podium. Speaking loudly into the microphone he addressed the captain and her crew.
"On behalf of everyone who lives and works aboard the Planetary Space Station Onas Onas, I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the Captain of the Al Tigaro Tigaro and her crew. Captain Aisha Clan Clan, will you step forward please."
Aisha approached the podium.
"Lady Aisha, please accept this plaque commemorating your glorious victory over the Irrelatic Coalition on the 35th day of the 18th month of the year of the God of Ctarl 41449."
He extended the plaque to Aisha. She took it with one hand and shook the Admiral's hand with the other. The Admiral then gestured towards the podium so she could say a few words.
Aisha stepped up to the mic, not exactly sure what to say. "Hmm."
The noise from the crowd had died down while the Admiral was speaking and now it was fairly quiet as everyone waited to hear from the hero of the Battle of Sector Alpha 63. From the crowd Aisha could hear someone yet out.
"We love you Aisha!"
She laughed softly.
"We love you too." She replied.
The crowd broke into a round of laughter. Aisha used this and continued.
"It's that love for all Ctarl Ctarl that drives us to be soldiers in the defense of the people we love. And it's honor that drives us to do all we can in the defense of the Empire we lovingly serve."
Turning slightly towards the Admiral. "Admiral Kotiro, on behalf of my officers and crew, I accept this gracious offer and salute you."
Aisha raised her hand in salute to the Admiral.
"Victory and Honor." She pronounced loudly. The crowd erupted in applause and cheers once again. She then took her place at the head of the formation.
The Admiral approached the podium again, as the cheers slowly died down.
"We wish we could keep you here and show you the type of hospitality this station is capable of… "
The crowd cheered again. The Admiral waved his hand to get them to quite down.
"but… but an entire planet awaits your arrival not to mention our glorious Emperor."
The crowd cheered again.
"So please follow the lieutenant. He will escort you to your shuttle. Thank you, and thank you all for attending." The Admiral said to the crowd who continued to cheer.
Similar celebrations took place at seven other space docks aboard the space station.
The lieutenant escorted the crew of the Al Tigaro Tigaro to a waiting shuttle. As Aisha prepared to board the lieutenant addressed her.
"Allow me to take that for you ma'am." Reaching out for the plaque. She hesitated turning it over for an instant.
"Don't worry ma'am, I'll have it sent to your personal residence as soon as possible."
Aisha nodded, "Thank you." She let go of the plaque and boarded the shuttle.
She saw that her crew left a seat vacant at the front of the shuttle for her since they started boarding while she spoke with the lieutenant.
The shuttle sat four across, two on each side of the middle aisle. In the left front seats, sat Striker and Amery, smiling at each other and whispering in each other's ears. The attraction between the two was obvious and they did little to hide it. In the right front seat sat Vistar. She sighed, 'What I wouldn't do to be able to sit with Striker and Amery right now.' Aisha looked over to Vistar and saw him smiling from ear to ear, obviously anxious to chat with his captain on the shuttle ride down to the planet surface. Aisha sighed again and sat down.
As she expected, he started right up. "Lady Aisha, your speech was truly inspiring. Did you prepare it in advance?"
"No, no I didn't."
"Amazing! You're a natural orator."
"Thank you."
"You know, Lady Aisha, I once considered a career as a speech writer. I think I really have the knack for it but my father insisted on a career in the Fleet. Wanting me to follow in his footsteps I suppose. Hehe."
'Truly a loss to politicians everywhere.' Aisha mused, "Vistar, I need you to do me a favor."
"Oh anything Lady Aisha."
"I plan on taking a nap on the shuttle ride down to the surface. Make sure no one disturbs me."
"Oh yes, Lady Aisha, you can depend on me." Vistar beamed.
Aisha reclined her seat as far as it would go and closed her eyes.
"Good, I'm counting on you Vistar. Don't let me down."
Vistar kneeled up on his seat and turned to face the rest of the crew.
"Ssshhhh! The captain is trying to take a nap. Quiet down."
Various responses came from throughout the shuttle.
"Stick it up your ass."
"Shove it up yours, asshole."
"Blow me dickhead."
Vistar's face grew red and he retaliated the only way he knew how.
"Captain's orders!"
Slowly the rumbling was reduced to quiet whispers. Overly satisfied with himself, Vistar smiled and sat back down. He looked over to Aisha who appeared to be fast asleep. His smile grew even wider as he turned his attention to his pocket pad.
'What a spineless worm.' Aisha thought. 'Only Vistar, of all my senior officers, would have to mention it was my order. Well, at least it got him to shut up.'
The shuttles launched in sequence heading down to the capital city of the Ctarl Ctarl Empire and an audience with the Emperor.
**********
The shuttles landed at a spaceport in the outskirts of the capital. As she walked down the stairs from the shuttle to the ground, Aisha could see vehicles lined up, each with the name of her ship across the front and sides. The first vehicle sat only three behind the driver; the others were much larger sitting up to 15.
A member of planetary security greeted Aisha as she reached the ground. He saluted her enthusiastically.
"Captain, it is an honor to meet you."
She saluted back, "Thank you. Why have we landed so far from the capital?"
"To give the people of Ctarl Ctarl ample opportunity to see the heroes of the Battle of Sector Alpha 63. The heroes of Ctarl Ctarl. There must be over 50 million Ctarl Ctarl lined up from just outside this space port all the way to the Imperial Palace."
"The Imperial Palace?"
"Yes ma'am, that's where you'll meet the Emperor and be presented with your medals. There has to be an additional 10 million Ctarl Ctarl just outside the Palace, there to witness the presentation."
"I… I can't believe it. This is incredible."
"Not since the days of your father, Lady Aisha, has the capital seen such a victory celebration. Of course, not ever your father had to face down 5,000 enemy ships. Now if you and your tactical and navigations officers will board the lead vehicle and the rest of your crew board the remaining crafts; your procession to the Palace can begin."
"Yes, of course." Aisha replied, turning to her crew who was still waiting on the stairs and in the shuttle. She pointed to Striker and Amery then to herself and over to the first craft. Then she made some other hand gestures, which told her crew to load up onto the other vehicles. She turned around and walked to the first vehicle. Striker and Amery got in on either side of her. All the vehicles were topless to give the crowds a clear view of them.
"Can you believe this?" Asked Amery.
"Not hardly." Replied Striker.
"See, it's like I've always said. Stick with me and I'll make you famous." Added Aisha.
They all laughed heartily.
Their driver turned around and cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Excuse me sirs but if you don't mind, may I shake your hands, the hands of the bravest Ctarl Ctarl officers in the entire Fleet?" He smiled.
Aisha returned the smile, "Sure."
Extending her hand first and having it shaken vigorously.
"What is your name?" She asked.
"Visro… Visro Cafes Cafes, ma'am."
"Well Visro, I'm…"
"Captain Aisha Clan Clan, I know. I was one of the security officers in attendance at your last two medal presentations. It is truly an honor ma'am. And this is your Tactical Officer Striker Craaw Craaw"
He shook Strikers hand with equal vigor.
"The best tactical officer in the Fleet or so I'm told. And you are Navigations Officer Amery Ctal Ctal. Its said you once flew your ship throw an ether storm in order to surprise the enemy and came out without so much as a scratch." Taking her hand as well.
"This is truly an honor, an honor." Visro said again. Someday I'll be able to tell my grandchildren that I got to shake the hands of three legends of Space Fleet."
He finally turned forward and adjusted his viewfinders.
Aisha, Striker and Amery just looked at each other and smiled.
"Oh, by the way," Visro said, "feel free to sit on the back of the seats. It will give the crowds a better view. And don't hesitate to wave back. I was told that standard protocols have been suspended."
"Thank you Visro, thank you very much." Aisha replied. Turning to her crewmates. "Shall we?"
"Sure." They said in unison, as they stepped on the seat and rested their bottoms on the top of the backrest.
It took only a few more minutes to get all remaining 283-crew members loaded onto 19 vehicles. After confirming the course and order of the precession over the communicator with the other lead vehicles Visro powered up the craft and proceeded forward. The craft moved smoothly over the ground hovering about a half a meter high. Aisha, Striker and Amery sat comfortably as they anxiously waited to see the large crowds Visro described along the five-hour procession to the Palace. Their vehicle was the lead craft in the procession, followed by Augusta's craft, then the other six captains. The crew of the Al Tigaro Tigaro was next, then the crew of the Al Lione Lione and so on.
As they approached the gate marking the exit from the space port, they could see the huge crowds of people cheering, screaming, waving the Ctarl Ctarl Flag, and waving signs which read, 'Welcome Home, Heroes of Ctarl Ctarl',
"Oh my god!" Amery exclaimed
"Yeah!" Striker added.
Aisha turned her head from side to side to look at her two friends and crewmates.
"Come on you guys. We're the heroes of Ctarl Ctarl. Its time to act like it."
She shot her hands high above her head and waved to the anxious crowd. They took their queue from their captain and began waving as well.
Slowly the gate opened and the procession began its long journey to the Imperial Palace.
The moment their craft past the gate, several small children ran up to it holding bouquets of flowers. They handed the flowers mostly to Amery and Striker since they were by the doors, but one small golden-haired boy holding a huge bouquet of Tiger's Breath, a beautiful and aromatic yellowish orange flower with thick black strips running out from the stems, insisted.
"These are for the captain," in a soft sweet voice.
Aisha stepped down to the side of the craft and accepted them from him, ruffling the child's golden locks in the process. The small boy smiled and saluted Aisha. Aisha smiled and gave him a salute back. The little boy beamed with joy as he bounced back to his parents.
The procession proceeded slowly. The crowds, though large were extremely orderly, remaining on the side of the road to allow the vehicles clear passage without delay. The only exceptions were the steady flow of children who continued to bring them flowers. The cheers were deafening and the amount of confetti and flower pedals thrown into the air around them made it difficult to see clearly. But they just continued to wave and accept the bouquets from the children.
Amery leaned over to Aisha; "This is incredible! I never imagined we'd get a greeting like this."
Aisha just smiled.
Visro screamed back to them, "If you think this is something wait until you see what the crowds are like once we're inside the city."
Amery and Aisha looked at each other and screamed with excitement.
**********
It was just as Visro had said. The size of the crowds along the procession route more then tripled the minute they entered the city. Not only did people line the streets but they cheered from inside the buildings, from in between the buildings and from on top of the buildings. People cheered and throw flower pedals and confetti. Flowers were still being showered down upon them even though the vehicles were already overflowing with them. Most of the new flower bouquets simply rolled off the top of the pile and onto the road. Aisha still held the bouquet of Tiger's Breath that was given to her at the beginning of the procession. She was determined to see these flowers make it home with her.
**********
During her first year in the academy, Aisha was once punished for acting up in gym class by being made to hold two seventy-five pound weights over her head for 70 minutes. Right now she longed for those days as she shifted the flowers from one arm to the other so she could continue to wave.
Amery leaned over to her. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."
The captain nodded, "I lost all feeling in my arms over an hour ago."
Striker leaned over, "Look on the bright side, we only have another hour of this to go."
He grinned stupidly.
His captain growled at him and snapped. Striker jumped back and laughed while he continued to wave.
"Another hour of this." Aisha thought out loud. "Just chop my arms off now."
Amery laughed, "I'll join you."