* * *
Jupiter Station’s hangar bay was dark, dank, and dreary. The overhead air conditioning vents were emitting a frosty stream of vapor with a stale musty odor; the result of shuttle craft exhaust, coupled with inadequate air recirculation.
Gallant felt a chill and pulled his jacket tight around him. He crammed his bandaged hands into his pockets. His eyes were watery and his nose running. He sneezed and thought longingly about a steaming hot cup of stim-coffee. He checked the time and found that he still had over an hour before his medical appointment.
Plenty of time for a cup of stim-coffee at the Officer’s Club, he thought.
After a short walk along the station’s interior corridor, Gallant opened a door into an elongated oak-paneled room filled with small tables and adorned with military paraphernalia. The crowded well-lit room overflowed with cheerful banter, dissipating the hangar bay gloom. Bustling waiters moved about, servicing the tables.
Gallant tried to get past a short, plump man in elegant civilian attire. “Please excuse me, sir,” he said, unsure of the man’s rank, or station. The stocky man nodded a vague acknowledgement, but hardly moved, as he quickly returning to his clamorous conversation. Gallant squeezed by him and made his way further into the room, when he heard his name being called.
“Henry! Henry, over here!” came a voice over the clamor.
Someone was weaving his way through the horde of officers, while trying to avoid knocking their drinks over. Despite the intervening figures, Gallant couldn’t fail to recognize Ed Stevenson, his former academy roommate. As tall as Gallant, with sixty more pounds of brawn and sinew, Stevenson had been a linebacker on the academy football team and was as tough as they come.
“Henry, it’s great to see you,” said Stevenson, his arms extended. The welcoming bear hug, he applied, almost crushed Gallant ribs.
“Ed, it’s great to see you,” said Gallant, rubbing his chest, overjoyed at his good fortune in running into his friend. Just then, several officers vacated a nearby table. He grabbed Ed’s arm and pulled him toward it. They plopped down into the seats and began moving glasses out of their way. A waiter came by and took their orders for stim-coffee and wiped off the tabletop.
“How have you been?” asked Gallant.
“I’m fine, but I’m stuck on Jupiter Station until Renown returns,” said Stevenson.
“As missile weapon’s officer, I would have thought you rated transport directly to your battle cruiser,” said Gallant.
“Captain Rook left word for transient crew members, to remain here until he returned,” Stevenson said with a frown. Newly commissioned midshipmen were always eager to reach their ships because their two year deployment tenure didn’t start until they report aboard. “That’s unfortunate. I don’t suppose there’s anyway to learn when Renown will return,” said Gallant.
Stevenson shrugged and then glanced at Gallant’s hands. He asked, “What’s the story with the bandages?”
“There was an accident on Repulse; a fire in the forward missile compartment. I was the DC leader and was careless. The burns aren’t really very bad. I’m due for medical treatment in about an hour,” said Gallant. He hesitated, trying to decide if he should also tell Stevenson about the letter of reprimand.
“Well, until then, tell me about your ship. What’s it like on deployment?”
“Repulse is a fine ship with a well-trained crew. Captain Caine seems strict, but fair. I’m the communication officer. I suspect you’ll get that same job on Renown. We haven’t done all that much; a few training exercises, otherwise we’ve remained in Jupiter orbit.”
Stevenson gave Gallant a sharp look, before asking a direct, but tactless question, “Have you made any friends?”
Gallant managed a weak smile, “You know perfectly well, that I’m getting the same silent treatment that I got at the academy.”
“Don’t get discouraged, you worked through it at the academy, and you’ll deal with it on Repulse.”
A new throng of officers entered the packed room and tried to force their way to the bar. The ripple effect jostled the two midshipmen as they were collecting their stim-coffee from their waiter.
Gallant took a welcomed sip before returning his attention to his friend. He said, “It took the better part of two years to find just a few friends at the academy. If it wasn’t for you and Sam, I wouldn’t have survived. You were both ideal roommates and wonderful friends.”
“Who are you kidding? You didn’t need any help from me, or Sam. Nothing was going to stop you. Nothing did then, and nothing is going to stop you now.”
“Thanks, Ed. You don’t know what a shot in the arm your support is,” said Gallant. “Do you know how Sam is doing?”
“Wellman is an astrogator on Superb, the flagship of the Mars Fleet. I got a message from him just a week ago and he’s doing well.”
“And how about you?” asked Gallant.
“I’ve been spending most of my time completing AI training courses and availing myself of the local restaurants and taverns. There are some fun entertainment spots on Jupiter Station. I’ve met some nice local girls. I can introduce you, just say the word.”
Gallant blushed, “Thanks Ed, but there’s someone on Repulse, that I kind of have my eye on.”
“Okay, I understand,” laughed his friend.
For nearly an hour, they chatted about their possible futures until finally, they found themselves saying farewell.
“Do you think we can get together again?” asked Stevenson.
“You can count on it,” said Gallant.