Chapter 46

Three months have passed and they're attaching the engine section, it's simply unreal how fast they work. I'm in shuttle two inspecting the outer superstructure, and my God she's looking good. There are teams already working on the inside of the ship; if this keeps moving at this pace the Helios will be complete and almost ready for trials, in two months.

We circle around to the starboard side and I nod. She's definitely larger and more impressive, and her weapons systems have been improved. The other thing that they have done is improve our plasma weaponry; they didn't want to change it's basic functions or design to leave them 'Human', as one of the Engineers said.

I pat the pilot on the shoulder. "This is beyond my imagination chief."

"You got that right Sir." agreeing with my assessment.

"Lets head back. Jahní and I are rotating planet side in thirty mikes." He turns the shuttle heading back to the docking port near my office. We touch down inside the bay and I head right to my office, making sure that I'm not leaving anything behind. Satisfied that I have everything I leave securing the door heading to our apartment.

Walking in I'm surprised by finding Lahí and the Gunny here. The Gunny stands snapping a salute. Returning it I smile and walk up taking his hand shaking it hardily, which makes him smile. Look at both of them. "I thought we were going to meet on the deck and go from there."

"Well, Lahí thought it would be nice to surprise the two of you up here." I turn to Lahí.

"There will be less curious eyes up here, since it's mostly military personnel." I turn to Lahí, that makes sense. "They won't ask any questions." She adds.

"Skipper." Hal is shaking his head. "You gotta see the ride we have to head to that tropical planet. It's pretty sweet."

Jahní and Lahí both laugh and the moment is great, between friends. "Well I'm pretty much packed, as is Jahní." Lahí smiles at us and stands taking Hals arm. I go to our room and Jahní follows me in.

"Ant, I told Lahí of how romantic it was on that planet; I hope you don't really mind, since I may have shared a bit too much detail." OH! Well they are sisters, and I suppose that happens.

But, I would like to keep those things just between us. "Just don't share too much... It makes me self conscious." Jahní looks down, but I pick her head up and I caress her face. "It's ok.

She smiles at me knowing what I feel in my heart, because I can't hide my feelings to her. I grab both our bags stepping out of the room and Hal takes her bag, and we move out. We get to the ship that is moored at the other end of the port and she is a beauty, as Majah-tu design is concerned. She looks sleek and fast, like a small version of the cruiser that Jahní commanded.

"Captain, this is the Morning Star." Lahí is proud of this ship and it show on her face, and even Jahní looks at it in a similar manner. "She is a new type of scout ship. Small, fast, tough and well armed."

I look at it feeling awed by it. "Told you it was sweet Skipper." It's a marvel to me, not just sweet. One day Earth will be able to produce ships of this caliber. We go across the docking bridge stepping into the ship. The first thing I notice is that there is no crew, which is odd for a ship to have no one aboard.

Lahí notices me and puts a hand on my arm. "We have a cook and two engineers and two maintenance personnel, that is all we need on this trip. It's not a combat mission."

'Yeah, I know I just never new that this ship could be so under manned." I am truly amazed at this advanced technology. This is the way to go. "So a lot of the systems, are they automated?"

Jahní smiles nodding at my perceptiveness. "That is the way of these smaller ships, so less people have to be in harms way." A way to minimize loss of life while on patrol, that is a novel concept I would imagine for a warrior culture.

"Well first let me show you to your room. I'm giving you the Captains quarters since it is large, and Jahní is older than me." Jahní inclines her head to her younger beloved sister and Lahí bows. "Also, out of respect for you Captain." I look at her, smiling I bow in gratitude. She shows us the way and we deposit our bags in there.

The quarters is spacious, just like Lahí says. It is simply decorated, but that's fine by me since it still is a military vessel. Jahní sit no the edge of the bed which is of a nice size as well, so a bit of comfort for the commanding officer. "Some of the wives will spend the night before their husbands leave with them, that is why the bed is larger." Jahní gazes at me.

"Really. They don't offer such comforts in our military." I look around the quarters. "Not even close, but why do they allow such a practice?"

"In ancient times, the Captain of a sea going vessel would bed his bride in his quarters to bring the scent of her with him on his bed." She looks down. "To always have that to comfort him on his long voyage." She stands walking to me. "The ancient custom was never stopped." I hold her as she holds my face in her hands.

I lookout her and my heart is full. "I hope to not let that custom die." She smiles putting her forehead to mine.

My love we must be ever careful, and hold on to what ever time we have. She sends her thoughts to me so no one can hear us.

You know that I'm always cautious and I cherish every moment we spend together. I never take anything for granted around here. Death is to easy out in this great expanse of space, so I don't take unnecessary chances.

"Lets go to the bridge and join my sister and Hal." We share a kiss before we go.

We get to the bridge of the Morning Star and it's as impressive, as I imagined it would be.

Lahí stands up and waves us forward. When we get there she is excited like a school girl, about to go on a class trip. "This is where we need you to be." She point to the helm as far as I can tell, looking at Jahní. "And you Ant, sit right next to her here."

"What station is this?" I need to know what I'm doing here.

"It is the navigators seat." Interesting, but... "I can't read Majah-tu Lahí, what good am I going to do at this position?" She smile and goes to my panel and manipulates the controls; suddenly all the words become English. My mouth drops. "How, why?"

Jahní nods intrigued by this addition. "So, Father is preparing for the future when our two peoples fight side by side." I am amazed that he had already considered such a move. It shows that the King is a forward thinking monarch. "Can you work with it now Ant?"

I shake my head. "This is a sweet ship." Sitting down at the seat of the navigator the controls brighten, as do Jahní's when she takes her place. "Lahí, why us as pilot and navigator?"

She turns and looks at us smiling. "Simple Jahní is a great pilot and you are not so bad yourself, but most importantly you will make a great team. You both have... the deepest connection I've ever witnessed between pledged." She hesitates for a second. "I know about you gift of mind link, which is rare and even impossible with one of another race."

I turn to Jahní and she looks down I smile taking her hand. "Hey. She's your sister right?" She looks at me with dread. "She will never hurt you or me in extension, so it's fine." She squeezes my hand and I return it.

Lahí sit down next to the Gunny. "I will take the communication station and Hal is manning the weapons station. What more can we ask for to pilot a ship?" I can think of a few things like an armed security force and medical personnel, but who's worried?

Lahí begins to speak on the comm; probably getting permission to depart. She looks to Jahní giving her a hand signal, and Jahní's fingers flash across the controls. I can feel the ship drift a bit then she takes the two sticks controls. Pushing one forward just a bit making us move towards the main bay doors. I feel a surge of excitement, at finding out what this ship can do. I Notice that jahní is not strapped in, so I get up and reach around her grabbing the straps.

Jahní is surprised at first, but stays calm as I finish getting her secure. Lahí just giggles at my action, but the Gunny takes the cue from me and does the same for Lahí. She glares at him and he shrugs. Then she smiles pulling him to her planting a whopping kiss on him. He sits back in his chair with a silly grin on his face.

Even the toughest most grizzled combat vets can't win against their girl. We slip out of the Space port and are now free to maneuver. Lahí gives me the coordinates we want to take, which I punch in. Jahní looks at them and turns to Lahí. "Why do you want to go there?"

I turn to her and I can see the small struggle of wills going on, as they speak in their language. Jahní turns to me. "Ant, Lahí wants to go to the Trader world before we go to the rest in our cove. Is this acceptable to you?"

Lahí puts her hands steepled together in front of her mouth, pleading with her eyes for me to agree. "Is it safe for Jahní to go there? That my only concern on my part."

Jahní consider my words. "There is a strong Majah-tu military presence there, as well as of other worlds." So, it's not that safe if they need such a strong force there.

"Yes it true, but that also makes to secure for us to be there!" Hal puts his hand on Lahí's shoulder, she looks back at him and looks down in defeat. I feel bad for her since she is still young.

"Ok." everyone looks at me. "We'll go, but as soon as something seems fishy or out of place we're out of there. No argument!" Lahí claps her hands and turns to Hal joyfully.

Jahní looks at me shaking her head smiling. "You're too soft. You must be a sterner parent to our child."

"Hey, I'll do my best to raise good strong children." She laugh a bit as she hits the fold activation control and then the fabric of space explodes in front of us, forming a tare of blackness. Jahní pushes the thruster forward and we slip in where the stars don't shine for an instant nothing, then star appear once again and I sigh in relief. I don't know if I'll ever get used to that.

Jahní checks all the instrument. "All is in order." she looks spotting our destination she points "There it is." we're close, but not that close I wonder why? "We have to announce our arrival to the governing committee, which means we have to let them know who we are." Oh, well that's just great, so much for discreet. She sees my upset face and touches my hand. "It must be done. It will be better for us if they know."

"Alright, lets get this over with."