CHAPTER 24
HOMECOMING WEEKEND
The end of fall approached, but the Mars weather remained temperate. The potent storms of winter had not yet arrived, leaving the sky clear. New Annapolis, the center of the Martian government and home to Mars Fleet Command, was an ultramodern city located near the equator. It boasted a metropolitan ambiance, bustling with business and tourist attractions. Its rustic colonial growth was deliberately designed to reflect its namesake. The commercial buildings towered over the smaller local establishments offering goods and services to the inhabitants, as well as to a vibrant tourist crowd. The people lived and worked in much the same way that their ancestors did on Earth. Bankers, merchants, and laborers scurried about the combination seaport and spaceport with cargo of every description. Flying cars and travelers using jet-packs took advantage of the low Martian gravity as they stacked up high above the city during the early-morning commuter traffic. The suburbs were packed with families thriving in this prototypical twenty-second-century colonial settlement.
Recently built canals crisscrossed the entire planet. They channeled water from reservoirs and lakes to irrigate crops and supply cities. The gray stone walls along the sides of the canal guided small ferries as they moved down stream. The small craft traveled toward a junction where the canal flowed into the powerful New Severn River. Recent rains had swelled the river, raising its level as it swept past the wharfs and shoreline buildings of Mars Fleet Command.
On this pleasant day, Gallant was bursting with good spirits. Kelsey was in his thoughts. He had visited her in the hospital again. She was well enough to respond to his comments and they spoke briefly. He was relieved to see that she was of good cheer and striving to recover from her serious injuries. Her doctor said that she would have to remain in the hospital for treatment for at least several weeks and then she would require several months of physical therapy. They predicted that with time, her health would return. However, Gallant noticed, they didn’t say if she would be returned to active service.
Gallant walked toward New Annapolis. He climbed up and over the canal locks to reach a dock where a small ferry was tied. He got on board. The ferry served as a convenient and pleasant form of transportation. It traveled down the canal until the canal merged with the full flood of the river. Gallant was enjoying himself for the first time in days.
A little further along the river, the ferry reached the site of the UP Space Academy. The academy was founded in 2125 following the Unification Wars when the need for a space force to patrol the solar system became clear. The first vessels of the new UP fleet were launched in that year. In just a few decades, the fleet changed from mostly chemical to all nuclear-power drives. This offered greater capacity for space exploration, but also demanded higher standards in officer training and education.
The academy evolved over time to meet the growing needs. As the colonists developed culturally and technologically, so did the entrants to the academy. Life at the academy, in many respects, was radically different from traditional colleges or universities. The programs were designed to challenge every midshipman mentally, physically, and morally. No matter the individual’s background, they were encouraged to use their talents to the greatest extent. The midshipmen lived and worked together in one huge dormitory complex where men and women from all classes competed continuously.
Often, the first phase of military life could be confusing, involving physical and mental stress. First-year plebes were drilled on all manner of subject, but none more important than the institution’s honor code. This standard of integrity was required for every facet of military life. As a result, well-educated and trained midshipmen were graduated to serve as officers and pilots in the space fleet.
The core curriculum included numerous major fields of study, a wide variety of elective courses, as well as opportunities for advanced study and research, leading to a science degree. The studies reflected the needs of the service to include science, engineering, mathematics, and astrogation. The program consisted of two academic years followed by a two year deployment aboard a spaceship. This ‘apprenticeship’ period was in the tradition of the historic navies of Earth.
Gallant was pleased to discover that he had arrived at the academy on Homecoming Weekend and many graduates were arriving for a festive few days of reminiscing and celebrating. He hoped he would meet up with some of his classmates. The wonderful scene filled him with a sense of recapturing the entire academy experience.
He noticed that smiling relatives and joyful graduates were gathering together. A few familiar faces included one of his closest friends, Sam Wellman. Sam was an astrogator on Superb. Standing beside him were two others classmates that Gallant recognized.
“Henry, it’s great to see you. We’ve been following the news stories about you and we were just debating whether they could all be true. You’ll have to tell us. There’s a round of beer waiting on your answer,” said Sam. As an afterthought, he asked, “How’s your arm?”
As tall as Gallant, but more solidly built, Sam was a rugged-looking young man. Sam’s firm handshake put Gallant at ease. He was pleased to see his old friend.
“My arm’s fine, but I’m hungry,” replied Gallant. “I hope you guys haven’t eaten yet.”
Gallant enjoyed looking over the academy grounds as he walked to the mess hall with his friends. They were still in time for the midshipmen’s Saturday morning buffet breakfast. It consisted of eggs and pancakes along with maple syrup which was a delight to Gallant after his ordeal on reduced rations. He enjoyed the formality and ritual of the mess hall with tables covered with white cloth and small dark blue pendants. The pendants represented the different academy companies and delineated their competitive intramural standings.
Gallant and his friends were seated at a table reserved for visitors when Sam raised his glass of milk in a toast to Gallant.
Gallant blushed. “Thanks,” he mumbled with his mouth full of pancakes.
“While you’ve been living a life of high adventure, I’ve been spending most of my time taking AI training courses,” said Sam. He started telling Gallant about his service on the Mars Fleet flagship.
Gallant acknowledged, “Superb sounds like a wonderful ship.”
“Yes, but tell us about the Titans and your battles.”
“Yeah, well I survived,” was Gallant’s abbreviated response.
“After everything you endured plebe year, I knew, nothing was ever going to stop you,” said Sam.
“Thanks, Sam. Did you also know that Ed Stevenson was on Renown?”
“Yes, and I’ve learned that he’s recovering from his wound at Jupiter Station.”
Gallant’s curiosity led him to ask, “Why has the Mars Fleet taken so long to reinforce the Jupiter frontier?”
Sam looked at his companions. He said, “Things on Mars have been chaotic ever since Captain Caine reported an alien fleet moving toward Jupiter. There’s been a great commotion in the press and the civilian population has been agitated. There’s a debate about how the fleet should respond. Admiral Collingsworth has been hampered by politicians. They’ve been complaining about the lack of escorts for merchant convoys and the fears of leaving Mars vulnerable.”
For nearly an hour, the four midshipmen continued to chatter about past glories and future hopes until it was time for the football game. The academy was hosting their archrival, Nuevo-Notre Dame in the stadium just outside of New Annapolis.
Gallant and his friends took the underground high speed rail transit to the stadium. They sat in the stands as the academy midshipmen marched into the stadium and onto the field. With precise steps and snappy movements, they paraded while the band played. After they marched off, the football players took the field and the game began. For a little while, Gallant felt like a carefree student on Saturday liberty once more. The cares of war seemed a fading memory. He was brought back to reality when throughout the game, and especially during half-time, his friends peppered him with questions about the Jup
iter Fleet action. Their insatiable curiosity extended from fighter tactics, fleet strategy, and marine actions, to the weapons capability of Titan ships and their ability to absorb punishment. Over and over again, they asked him a variety of questions on how to fight in future actions.
Gallant answered their questions from his personal experience. He told them about the effectiveness of the antimissiles on the Eagle fighter and the dangers of the Titan plasma weapons. He tried to explain what he learned from entering the Titan destroyer, such as, what the aliens looked like.
In return, his friends told him about the current circumstances on the Jupiter frontier where the situation remained static. Captain Caine and his damaged ships were making every effort to rearm and repair damage. They remained near Jupiter Station while the marines consolidated their position on Ganymede. Both sides of the ground war had suffered severe casualties and were exhausted. The colonists remained hidden in the sheltered tunnels. The Titan cruisers and destroyers had moved away from the Jupiter Fleet, yet remained able to support the Titan beachhead, if required.
The midshipmen speculated that the Mars Fleet was preparing to advance into the asteroid belt to reengage the Titans. Under the circumstances, Gallant expected to join the fleet soon. Unfortunately, he also expected to leave Kelsey behind.
The game ended in a satisfying 28-21 academy victory, but their discussion continued until finally, Gallant changed the subject. He asked about innovations for the fleet being developed on Mars.
Sam said, “The research facility at Dahlgren Field is converting fighters to carry anti-ship missiles, creating a kind of bomber. The tactics for using them are going to be different, and they will require a fighter escort.”
Gallant said, “Bombers could change the dynamics of battle. They’ll give our small craft some real firepower.”
Sam said, “The bombers are expected to carry just four anti-ship missiles, but they will give up all of their antimissile missiles to make space. That’s why they’ll need fighter escorts.”
One of Gallant’s classmates volunteered, “The research test field is just across the river near Mars Fleet Command. We could take a look at the new bombers.”
The idea appealed to all of them, and they set off to Dahlgren Field. When they got there, they were allowed through the gates and permitted to look at the exterior of the craft. Unfortunately, the insides were classified above their current clearance level.
Nevertheless, they concluded that the new weapons might be effective in fighting the Titan forces. The new ships could be forerunners of a weapon capable of affecting the balance of power. Still fighter pilots were fighter pilots, and converting their ships to act as bombers might be resisted.
Gallant’s experience convinced him that the Eagle fighters were just too small to take on the Titan destroyers single-handed, but in combination with the new bomber with its anti-ship missiles, he suspected they could be a deadly combination.
He thought, Admiral Collingsworth may be delaying his departure, at least in part, because he’s waiting for the addition of these bombers.
Gallant intended to spend the night at the academy’s Bachelor Officer’s Quarters (BOQ), but when he started to take his leave, Sam interrupted him. “No way! You’re coming home with me. You know my parents. They’ll want you to visit for a while.”
“Thanks. That sounds good to me.”
Gallant and Sam left their classmates and made their way to public transportation. After a brief trip in a transit tube, they zipped along underground to the suburbs. When they emerged, they walked down the street leading to the Wellman family home.
“Henry,” asked Sam, “do you remember these ladies?” As he spoke, an older woman motioned from the front door. A young girl stuck her head out of the front window. Both women waved to the midshipmen. Sam’s father also came out to greet the young men.
Gallant smiled. A few long strides brought him to the entrance of the residence. “Mrs. Wellman, I’m so glad to see you again,” he squawked, out of breath, as she squeezed him in bear hug. Mrs. Wellman was a heavy-set middle-aged woman with dark, freshly dyed, hair. She had known Gallant since his plebe year and considered him to be one of her own offspring. Her daughter, Kayla, was just thirteen years old, but she already found midshipmen fascinating. She smiled up at Gallant. The family also included three smaller children.
Mr. Wellman spoke pleasantly, “Henry Gallant, it’s good to see you again. Please, come in.” Gallant entered the modest house, feeling heartened by the words of welcome. The walls were covered with pictures of the family, each child in several poses over many years. The carpets were a synthetic fabric, durable but plain. The furniture was mass-produced prefabricated tables and chairs because wood on Mars was a rare and expensive commodity. The environmental air controls were going full blast because so many doors and windows were open. Even though terraforming had brought Mars near to Earth air-quality standards, buildings still maintained environmental controls for indoor comfort. Despite all that, it was the most hospitable home Gallant had ever entered.
It was full of noise, clutter, and most of all, young children. Little boys and girls of every description were running all over the place, playing and engaging in hijinks. Two large rooms on the right side had obviously been converted into temporary playrooms. Several lads were playing an animated game on the floor. A tall youth was practicing the violin in the corner. In the room on the left, a long supper table was set with pitchers of milk, piles of bread, and many dishes, indicating that they would be starting dinner soon. The hall, where Gallant was standing, provided needed shelter as a brisk game of tag was beginning to develop among the youths. So absorbed was Gallant with the exciting scene before him that he didn’t venture out of his corner.
“No, they’re not all ours,” laughed Mrs. Wellman, standing next to him.
Mr. Wellman chuckled and said, “You picked an exhilarating night for a visit. We’ve taken on the task of babysitting some of the neighbors’ children while they attend a local event. Don’t worry; they’ll soon tire themselves out, and then their parents will pick them up.”
“You’ll stay the night, Henry?” asked Mrs. Wellman.
“Of course he will,” said Sam.
“Let’s get dinner underway. Then we can settle the little ones down,” said Mrs. Wellman. “Oh, by the way John, you should look at Kayla’s report card.”
Gallant could tell that Mr. Wellman wasn’t pleased with what he saw as he opened the card.
“Gee, Dad you’re soooo funny, when your face gets all red!” exclaimed Kayla, as she swiped her red hair away from her twinkling green eyes.
John Wellman pursed his lips and rose to his full six foot two height. Then he broke into a broad grin and leaned over to kiss his thirteen year old daughter.
“Well, maybe I wouldn’t get so red, if you spent as much time on your grades as you do texting your girlfriends,” he said.
Turning to his wife, he added, “She’s still texting just girlfriends, isn’t she? No boyfriends yet?”
“Mom !?!” Kayla whined.
“She’s growing up, John,” said Mrs. Wellman trying not to laugh out loud, as she carried dinner dishes to the table. “Right now you can actually help her with her school report.”
“What report?”
“Really, John what’s the use of having a professor of astronomy in the family if he can’t help his daughter with some basic science?” asked Mrs. Wellman.
“Yeah, Dad, I’ve asked you a dozen times to explain about other life-forms in the galaxy.”
“You should already know that there are vast numbers of Earth-like planets and many possible life-forms,” said Mr. Wellman.
Kayla asked, “Does all intelligent life have to be like us, or the Titans?”
Wellman said, “Life on other planets could take many possible forms, which could include the possibility of a collective intelligence.”
Gallant found the conversation interesting and more adva
nced than he would have imaged. He listened as the family discussed the topic of aliens for several minutes, but soon the dinner table conversation was interrupted as the other children became more rambunctious and required attention. Having grown up as an only child without his parents, Gallant relished the chaos and warmth of the Wellman’s home. He enjoyed spending the evening with this jovial household and that night he slept better than he had in a long time.