Commander Alle Thew let his mind drift right along with his spacecraft. His last hard burn had put him on his rendezvous vector, but he was not likely to arrive there before the Alliance Cruiser left the quadrant. It left him in a introspective and pensive mood. There were many things to consider on his current vector. The Black Lotus was where his thoughts came to rest.
He'd been giving his clan quite a bit of thought over the last two years. It was changing, growing and that was good. But the old man had passed the reins to a new leader, a new Black Heart, and the Lotus was changing in more ways than he was comfortable with. The recruits were getting greener and the ramification were – well, self-evident.
The Black Lotus Society were moving too fast. Growing too fast. This new growth lacked discipline, they lacked the commitment, they lacked the vision of the old guard. So why was he still here?
Thew closed his eyes and went back to the beginning. The stone garden in the moonlight, the smell of cherry blossoms and the taste plum wine. Her jet black hair, fair smooth skin and willowy body. His commitment to her and hers to him was where this all began. And all that came with it rolled over again in his mind.
She was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen, but to have her he needed to be someone. Not just anyone, though, he needed to be a member of the clan and all that came with. It was done. She was gone now, but the Lotus remained. Had she asked too much of him? Probably, but that was what Alle was, devoted, and he couldn't change that now.
His proximity buzzer roused him from his reminiscence. It was just as well. He didn't like lingering too long in this memory. The anger would come and he preferred not to remember her that way. Besides, there was much to rejoice in. The Vanguard had not left without him.
The lone G8 fighter started its approach to the Alliance Cruiser as the huge city like vessel rounded the dark rock ball that was Persephone's forth moon. Alle went down the standard checklist on his approach, thankfully leaving his past in the past. The tractor finally took over and Alle relaxed. All he wanted now was a quick workout, a shower and to forget.
"Alpha 12 cutting over."
"Roger that, Commander. Commencing upload."
"How long til..?"
"Report!" the Captain's voice squawked in his headset.
Alle nearly jumped out of his seat. He'd hoped he could avoid this moment at least until he was on board.
"Mission complete sir. But…"
"Where is Tango 7?"
"Tango 7 pursued a Firefly toward the third moon."
"A what!?"
Thew considered how he could deliver this news without enraging the Captain and decided that it was not possible. He decided to stay cool and just tell it to his straight.
"A stray cargo ship sir. It was likely an ore hauler from Freemont, off course. The freighter escapes in the direction of Persephone. Tango 7 did not return. I didn't have the fuel to pursue, Sir. "
"Did they see the kill?"
"Unconfirmed." Thew said. "But doubtful."
The silence bore into the commander almost as much as the Captain's unseen glare. Thew felt decidedly uncomfortable just imagining the expression on his superiors face. This was going to be a bad day, but neither of them were strangers to bad days.
"Full report on my desk in one hour."
"Yes sir."
Alle flipped off the Com. His fighter was nearly docked and secure. Yet a workout, shower and nap were no longer a possibility. Still, before reporting to Captain Loe, he would let his mind drift again to the woman he so loved.
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