Call of Friendship
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot
At 0800, Commander Thomas Pierce walked into the Captain's office where the doctor and security chief waited. Both looked anxious. He didn't blame them. In the five years he had served under Captain Ivanova, this was the first time she had pulled something like this. She had commed in the middle of the night to tell him to meet her here. It was the first time she had done this in an non emergency situation.
Five year, a long time, but he still didn't know his captain very well. She had come on board wearing the black of the army of light, black she still wore, even on the rare occasion he saw her off duty she as in black. Like she was in mourning. She was young, not even thirty when they met, with long brown hair, deep gypsy blue eyes and pale skin. She worked longer hours than anyone else. She was a brilliant pilot and tactician. That was really all he knew about her.
His thoughts were interrupted when she walked in. She motioned them to sit and without preamble stated, " I have sent my resignation to Earth Dome, and am surrendering command to Commander Pierce as of now, who will take command until the new captain comes." Shocked silence. Susan had been up all night. Making her decision she had immediately contacted Earth Dome, where the horrified generals begged her to stay. Most of Earth considered her an hero, they needed her. Even the president had been contacted to try to urge her to stay. She was offered a promotion and more money. It had taken her an hour to talk her superior to accept her resignation. Wanting her continued support, they had offered to let her take a shuttle where she needed to go. She had packed the rest of the night, showered, changed and arrived to inform her commander.
" You will send a pilot to the shuttle bay to take me and officers to take my bags. I have prepared a written statement for you to read to the crew. It has been a pleasure working with you" she finished, shaking each man's hand. Her final words broke into the officers thoughts and each recuperated the feeling quickly following out her orders. She and the young pilot were ready to leave by 0900, as she set a coarse for the fleet.
The cell was small and damp, but thank God there had been no torture. Not yet anyway, maybe they intended to hold him for ransom. His limbs were cramping, his mind worried. What would happen now. His son was only four years old. He and the other had fought the Great War so their children would not have to face this. Even with the hardship of those days he had always imagined a happily ever after for them after the war, with him, Susan, Michael, and Stephen all comfortably settled with children who would never have to face such darkness. He had never imagined this. He shook with sorrow. Marcus dead, Susan gone, David didn't even know her. He wanted his son to, wanted her to be his godmother, to help raise him. She was the only one he trusted
The Allies of the shadows were as dark as the shadows themselves. He hadn't expected them to be. He had underestimated them. After everything that had happened, he still did that. He was angry with himself. He took in a few cleansing breathes. There was nothing he could do from where he was. He could only wait.
Delenn and Lyta sat on the bridge of White Star 1, waiting. There was nothing to do, or rather everything to do and nothing they could do. David was there to. Delenn worried about his safety, but there was no where to leave him. No place was safe for him without a heavy Ranger guard, and that guard could not be spared in the current difficulties. He did not understand what was happening. Suddenly, the tactical officer announced a vessel to be approaching, ETA 30 minutes. He could not say whether it was friend of foe, there was too much interference. Delenn's gaze met Lyta's and silently she motioned to an officer to take David to the safest part of the ship. The minutes went by slowly. Finally, the officer announced he could identify the vessel. He showed it to them with a smile and both women embraced each other with relief. An Earthforce shuttle.
Just ten minutes later Susan was on board. Delenn embraced her despite never having done so. More hesitantly, Lyta copied, half expecting to be turned away. To both their surprise Susan silently held her for quite sometime. At that moment it was impossible to guess the great dislike that had once existed between them. Around them, the Ranger crew unloaded Susan's baggage and took it to the quarters John had had built in all of the White Stars, there were three on each ship, with human beds.
Both stared at Susan. She was thinner then she had last been and she looked tired. At the same time, they had never seen her more determined. Without stopping a moment to rest, she walked to the bridge, with the other women following as she demanded reports of them.