Chapter 7

Dear Mary,

You might be wondering why I wrote a letter to you. Well, it's because letters get by the war censors faster and because handwritten letters are so much more traditional and romantic. Don't worry, a videorecording from me should get to you once those censors are done with it. By now you must have heard of the events on Venom. As far as we know (and as far as I can tell you) it's been invaded by an unknown hostile force. Gods, I hope Pete and Jane are all right. So with that, Katina declared war soon after. Baby I wish this didn't have to happen. I've seen too much of it already, all this fighting. To think I thought it was over with.

Damn, I wish I could see you. I wish I could hold you again and we could spend one more night together, back there, back home on Corneria. But we're shipping out in one day and I just can't do it. I will miss you so much.

I'm sorry. I should have quit when you told me to. I should have taken that easy job as a private pilot. But now I'm in too deep, and the team needs me.

Boy if you could see the team now. Eight kids you never met, all raring to go and get their first taste of action, like little Polly back during the first war.

Of course Fran, Wally and I are about as happy as a sleetwing on Solar. We're too experienced to look at this with nothing other than frustration, cynicism, and in the end a certain resignation to do our duty.

Bill though is about as angry as they come right now. He's not showing it, but you can see it in his eyes. You can hear it in his voice. Alone, in his office, managing four mostly inexperienced squadrons about to engage in a full-scale war, he looks around twenty years older than he actually is, tired, disheveled and mad as they come. Though of course, like I said, he tries not to show it.

I don't know when we'll meet again. I really hope the war is over quickly.

You remember the last time, when I wrote saying I might not see you again and all that stuff?
I don't think you need to hear it again. You're ready for it as I am. You've grown so strong.

I will miss you so much.

Love,

Perry

"Perry, am I intruding?" Bill's head poked into the room.

"No, not at all." Perry hastily tucked the letter into an old-fashioned envelope and set about writing an address on the front.

"Good old fashioned snail-mail." Said Bill. "If you want it sent off you'd better hurry. The next cargo ship to Corneria goes soon."

"Nah, it can wait a little. I'll just drop it in with the quartermasters later." Perry put down his pen; an ancient implement sporting a gold tip, on which was embedded a hologram of him with his wife, Mary.

Bill glanced at the letter and smiled. "You're so lucky to have a girl like her, y'know, sticking by your side even though you only ever see her once a week at most."

"That's why I love her." Perry sealed the envelope and glanced at Bill.

Gods, look at him! He's not Bill. The Bill I knew was 27 years old, full of energy and longing for a chance to pull G's. Bill, what are you doing to yourself?

"Bill, aren't you going for some last R&R before our deployment tomorrow? You look like shit."

Bill put on a wry look, softening the haggard expression he had been wearing. "Hey, I got responsibility to the Wing, Perry. I got some admin to do." He leveled a finger at his friend. "I don't see you getting out tonight."

"That's because I haven't been on the job all day, every day for the last week. You look as though you've already fought the whole war yourself when we're just a day into it.

"I'll tell you what Bill, I'll handle your Admin duties. I am your XO after all. You can go and hit the town tonight."

"Aw, Perry, you don't have to do that…"
"You're not fooling anyone. Bill, you work too hard. Everyone knows that. I may as well start pulling my own weight. After all, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere since I was just in town yesterday. You go on and have some fun. I'll hold down the base, and your duties tonight. Get out of here."

Bill looked like he was trying to formulate an argument for a moment, but he smiled and slapped Perry on the back. "You're right. You're a real pal, Perry, I owe you one."

"Go on, get outta here." Perry grinned. "The squadron doesn't need you to burn out before we even hit the cockpits."

"Thanks." Bill gave Perry a thumbs-up and left.