Scout Force (43 page)

      
She made her way to the other lake to the northwest.
 
This lake had two islands, one with a large central clearing.
 
There were plenty of places along the shoreline big enough to set the air car down.
 
They cruised along at about ten meters elevation above the lake looking down into the crystal clear water.

      
She looked over at him and said, “I’m going to set down on that island with the big clearing.”

      
In a moment, they were down on the island and climbing out to explore.
 
Kelly led the way through a break in the trees to the water’s edge.
 
A warm breeze blew across the lake, causing small waves to slap upon the shore.
 
Some sort of bird was singing in the distance across the lake.
 
Candy walked down, shucked her shoes, and waded into the water.
 
Kelly did the same and joined her.
 
They both kicked off and swam a way from shore.

      
The water was cool.
 
Candy stopped a short distance from shore.
 
Kelly swam over to her.
 
Colder water from deeper in the lake swirled up around their legs.
 
It felt marvelous.

      
Kelly and Candy swam back into shallower water.
 
When Kelly could touch bottom he stood up.
 
Candy swam into his arms.
 
Her warm body felt good against his in the cool water.
 
Her lips met his.
 
The kiss went on, but before it went any further she broke away and said, “Come on, let’s get back to camp. I’m not ready to be landing this thing in the dark yet.
 
Besides, it will be a lot more comfortable on the sleeping bags than here.”

      
Kelly and Candy went to the air car, dried off, and then flew back to the camp.

      
They awoke in each others arms the next morning, tired, but sated.
 
Kelly led her to the spring and they freshened up.
 
They soaped each other up and took turns pouring cold water over each other to rinse off.
 
It was exhilarating.
 
Then they got dressed in anticipation of heading back to civilization.

      
Candy made breakfast while Kelly tore down the camp and put things away.
 
He was not as good at packing as Candy, so everything didn’t quite fit back into her duffle.
 
Kelly packed everything into the trunk of the air car.
 
Candy called him over for a breakfast of french toast and freeze dried fruit.

      
They ate while gazing at the scenery.
 
When everything had been cleaned and cooled down, they packed the rest of the gear away.
 
Reluctantly, they climbed into the air car and headed back to base.
 
Candy let him off near the dry dock holding the Vigilant.

      
She helped him get his duffle out of the trunk and gave him a big hug and a kiss.

      
“I suppose I’ll have to wait my turn with all your other girlfriends now before I can see you again.”

      
Kelly chuckled, “I guess so.
 
I have no experience in how this all works.
 
Why don’t we just play it by ear?
 
You aren’t going to get jealous on me, are you?”

      
“Jealous, no.
 
I don’t think that will happen.
 
Let’s just see how things work out.
 
I’ll still be living with my folks for the next three months until the house is built.
 
As much as my Dad likes you, I don’t think we could be very intimate at his quarters.”

      
Candy climbed back into the air car.
 
Kelly leaned in and kissed her goodbye.

      
“Don’t worry Candy.
 
I’ll be able to find time for you.”

      
She looked up, grinned, and said, “Of course you will,”
 
and drove off.

Chapter Ten

      
Kelly spent the next week inspecting the ship from bow to stern and running damage control drills.
 
LCDR Timmons trusted the Blakes' invention, but wanted to be sure that the crew could react to any emergency if something went wrong.
 
Kelly traced every fluid pipe, electrical conduit, and data cable on the ship.
 

      
Everything was in top shape.
 
The yard crew finished installing and testing the new larger electron guns.
 
Chief Miller gave them his seal of approval and the captain authorized the ship to be moved from dry dock to a regular parking apron.
 
The Vigilant sat down next to where the 68th fighters were parked.
 
Angie came over immediately.
 
The quarterdeck called Kelly and let him know she was waiting for him at the bottom of the ramp.

      
Kelly went out to meet her.
 
As it was coming on lunchtime, he went to the dining facility with her.

      
As they walked, Angie said, “Do you have any plans for this weekend?”

      
“No, I’ve got duty on Sunday, but Saturday evening and Lunaday are free.”

      
“Great.
 
I feel the need to cook something and you are invited over for dinner Lunaday evening.”

      
“What are we having?”

      
“I don’t know yet.
 
I’m going over to the base commissary tonight and pick up some things.
 
Why don’t you come over about 1800 on Saturday and bring some wine?”

      
“Great, I’ll bring red and white so I’ll be prepared no matter what you fix.”

      
They entered the dining facility, chose their food, and sat down.

      
Angie took a few bites and asked, “So, how is life in Scout Force?
 
The scuttlebutt says you have done some pretty amazing stuff.
 
I hear you’ve even done some space walks.
 
What was that like?”

      
Well I can’t talk specifics, but it was pretty gruesome.
 
The space walk part was fun, but what we were out there for wasn’t.”

      
I also heard about your combat in the Scutum sector.
 
I understand you’re up for another Space Medal.”

      
“No, not the Space Medal.
 
Something less I think.
 
The captain is up for the Space Medal, though.
 
Tell me about the 68th’s exploits after I left.”

      
“We continued to patrol along the frontier.
 
We didn’t have any more action like when you ran afoul of Old Bugger Off.
 
We could tell the K’Rang were shadowing us from across the frontier.
 
The Bolivar’s escort ships’ sensors would sometimes pick up concentrations of capital ships at long range.
 
Their frigate class ships would come in so close at times that even our fighter’s sensors could pick them up.
 
You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a K’Rang frigate show up on your scope.
 
Those things are scary looking.”

      
“I can imagine.
 
We ran into a torpedo ship in the Scutum engagement and it was bad enough.”

      
“A torpedo ship, what was that like?”

      
“It was a bit larger than the Vigilant and had a couple of pulse cannons.
 
The bad thing were the torpedoes.
 
They were a little larger than a fighter and employed active and passive homing.
 
The passive homing system locks on the ion discharge from the engines.
 
We were in dry dock earlier applying a fix to reduce the ion discharge to almost nothing.”

      
“Exhaust homing torpedoes, that sounds bad.
 
What can be done about the larger ships’ emissions?”

      
“Admiral Craddock sent a technical report out to Fleet and the techies are looking at how to reduce the exhaust trail for the capital ships.
 
Some will require a stop in a space dock.
 
Some will merely need to tune their electron guns.
 
I personally think the K’Rang screwed up by using the torpedo on us.
 
They gave away a significant tactical advantage they could have used in a major space battle some day.”

      
“I’m glad you came through it okay.”

      
They finished lunch and Angie walked him back to the Vigilant.
 
At the ramp she asked, “LTC Matthews asked me to offer you a chance to go up in a fighter.
 
Would you be interested?
 
We have an F-53B, trainer version with us.
 
He can’t let you go up by yourself, but I could fly rear seat for you and let you have the controls.”

      
Kelly replied, “Tell LTC Matthews that I would like that a lot.”

      
“Okay, I’ll tell him.
 
We can work out a time for you to go up.”

      
Kelly said goodbye and went up the ramp into the Vigilant.
 
The thought of flying a fighter again put an extra bounce in his step.
 
Maybe it would help him get through the next few days of running drills.

      
The captain met him at the top of the ramp.
 
He motioned Kelly over.

      
“I just got word from Scout Force HQ.
 
Our decorations have come through.
 
The ship is getting a Fleet Meritorious commendation.
 
You got a Silver Galaxy.
 
I got a Gold Galaxy.
 
The chiefs all got Space Medals.
 
The crew will get a mix of Meritorious Service Medals and Galactic Republic Defense Medals.
 
Not too shabby.
 
There will be an awards ceremony on Friday.
 
Chief Watson is already setting it up with HQ.”

      
“That’s great, sir.
 
That’s a lot more than I expected.
 
Has there been any word on when the test will take place?”

      
“Not yet.
 
The ring won’t be here for another week and then there is the calibration and testing to be done.
 
It will be a while yet.
 
I want to test the new engine modification while we wait.
 
We’ll go up next Tuesday, measure the engine signature, run some drills for a couple of days and be back in time for the weekend.”

      
“Sounds good to me, Captain.
 
I’ll get our requisitions ready for the flight.
 
Oh, by the way, sir, LTC Matthews has offered up an opportunity for me to take their trainer up for a flight.
 
If that’s all right with you, of course.”

      
”Once a fighter pilot, always a fighter pilot.
 
Of course it’s all right.
 
Just work it out with the duty roster.”

      
“Aye aye, sir.”

      
The captain returned to his paperwork and Kelly got back to tracing circuits.
 
Damage control drill was set for 1400 and he had a few more circuits to trace before then.
 
He thought about his Silver Galaxy.
 
Between what he already had, the New Amsterdam awards, and this he was up to two full rows of ribbons.
 
His dress uniform would look pretty impressive.
 
His dress mess uniform would look even more so, especially with the gaudy New Amsterdam medals.

      
The rest of the week passed uneventfully.
 
The awards ceremony on Friday went like clockwork, thanks to Chief Watson’s organizational skills.
 
On Saturday evening, Kelly bought some wine, and went to Angie’s quarters at the BOQ.
 
He arrived exactly at 1800 and she wasn’t in.
 
He waited a bit, was about to leave and check with her unit, when she arrived wearing her flight suit.
 
She was a little flushed as she opened the door and ushered him in.
 
He was met with the smell of something cooking with a bit of garlic and some spices he didn’t recognize.

      
As she unzipped and shucked out of her flight suit down to her skivvies, she said, “I forgot something and had to run to the commissary to get it.
 
Give me a minute to change and get freshened up.
 
I’m running a bit behind schedule.
 
Sit.
 
Relax.”