"LUNAR:  Starship Andromeda"

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LUNAR:  Starship Andromeda

By Jeffery C. Branch and Daryll Pung

Episode One:  Premature Departure

Rated: R

Fleet Commander’s Office, Crystal Palace, Crystal Tokyo, Planet Luna, Sol system, 12 March 2740

            The hallway echoed from the sharp footfalls of spike heeled knee boots on the polished tile floor as the tall, attractive woman in the green and gold sailor suit strode purposely towards the double doors of the Fleet Commander’s office.  Stopping at the door, the woman, sporting wavy, shoulder length, carrot red hair, bright, sea green eyes and a noticeably large chest paused to carefully check her fuku for neatness, then she took a deep breath before stepping right up to the door.

            “Come in,” came a voice from the comm panel next to the door in response to the chime.

            The woman strode inside as the doors hissed open.  She marched to the desk of Sailor Neptune, came to attention, clicked her heels and smartly saluted her superior.

            “Sailor Siryn, reporting as ordered, ma’am!” said the redhead in a lilting, Irish accented voice.  

            Sailor Neptune nodded and, trying not to stare at Sailor Siryn’s huge breasts, which never failed to mildly arouse her, despite centuries of self-control, gave the woman a warm smile.  “Thank you for coming, Fiona.  Please, be seated.”

Sailor Siryn sat in a leather chair in front of Sailor Neptune’s desk and crossed her long legs.  “Thank you. May I ask why I’ve been summoned?”

“Of course.  With the Andromeda having recently been commissioned, I’m assigning her to immediate patrol duty along the southern border of the Alpha Zone for the duration of one Lunarian year,” Sailor Neptune replied.

The redheaded Senshi’s eyes widened from surprise.  “Patrol duty?  So soon?  And in a region that’s the furthest from GM space?  Begging your pardon, ma’am, but it’s only been four months since Andromeda launched.  Fleet regs, which you co-wrote, require a six-month shakedown period after commissioning for a starship to properly break in all her systems before being assigned to active duty status.  We still have a lot of work to do.”

Sailor Neptune nodded again.  She would’ve been sorely disappointed, even angry if the overly busty woman hadn’t mentioned the regulation.  The teal haired Planetary expected her captains to be fully knowledgeable of all RSN regulations.  “I know, but these are difficult times, Fiona.  The fleet still hasn’t fully recovered from the Nebula War, not to mention our most previous- and perilous- dust-up.  The bottom line here is that ship numbers aren’t up to numbers Serenity likes.  Especially in the case of our battleships, the bulwark of the fleet.”

“Yeah, I can grasp that.  It never hurts to let the bad guys know we have our big guns on station so they don’t get any funny ideas for fear of getting their rowdy asses blown off,” said Sailor Siryn.

“Graphically descriptive, but essentially true.”  Sailor Neptune tried hard not to chuckle since the Irish woman had a knack for being plain spoken.  A trait the Planetary found refreshing.  “While Thor and Hercules are currently on patrol in the northern sector, Yamato and Lexington in the east and Ark Royal and Midway in the west, we need another big gun to go along with our compliment of cruisers in the region.  So it’s important that Andromeda be on station, even if she’s not fully ready.  But you won’t be alone out there.  The Valley Forge will join you after her overhaul.  Ship’s status?”

“We completed engine, computer system and structural integrity tests during the first phase of the shakedown.  All came through with flying colors.  The second phase would involve testing the weapon systems, including the TPA, trials for our fighter squadron and mock combat scenarios,” Sailor Siryn replied.  “Speaking of fighters, the dorsal level shuttlebays have been reconfigured to accommodate Sailor Eldrea and her wing.  The RSN Design & Fabrication department worked overtime to get everything ready.  It’ll be pretty interesting to have the Seraph Knights embarked, given their reputation.  You figure on Andromeda facing more than our fair share of nasty shit out there?”

Sailor Neptune smirked.  “In the Alpha Zone?  What do you think?”

The Irish Senshi chuckled.  “Yeah.  Damn stupid question.  Not that I’m bitching, ma’am, but, I’m leery as hell about finishing our shakedown while on patrol, not to mention integrating a fifth fighter wing with the rest of the squadron.  And the crew isn’t any more broken in than the ship.”

“I understand your concerns, Fiona.  As a starship captain, it’s your job to worry about every aspect of your ship, especially a new construction.”  Sailor Neptune paused to give her subordinate a smile.  “However, I have faith that you’ll work things out.  You’re one the brightest new commanders in the fleet.  While you’ve only been a Senshi for ten years, you’ve already earned high praise from your previous command on the light cruiser Leopard.  That’s why you were given the Andromeda.  Serenity demands only the best for her ‘big guns’.  And that’s you.”  

Sailor Siryn returned the smile.  The compliment by her superior made the redhead feel extremely good inside.  “I appreciate your faith in me, ma’am.  I won’t let you down.  You have my word on that.”

“I’m sure you won’t, dear.  On the subject of Sailor Eldrea, how do you feel about her recent appointment as your First Officer?”  

The Irish Senshi, her face impassive, was silent for several moments before she replied.  “Admittedly, I wasn’t too keen on having a Battlewing pilot as my second-in-command.  I know the woman’s experienced, hell, she became a Senshi three decades before I was born, but I wouldn’t want Sailor Eldrea’s attention divided between her duties as First Officer and her squadron duties, never mind that Audra risks her life every time she goes into combat with the Knights.  That just doesn’t sit well with me.”

“I don’t blame you for feeling the way you do.  However, it would have been a waste of manpower to have three Senshi stationed on one ship, and Sailor Africa was needed to take command of the new battleship Shiva,” Sailor Neptune explained.  “As for Audra, she’s a highly dedicated, highly capable Senshi.  I handpicked her for the position; I wouldn’t have assigned her to you if I didn’t feel she could handle both jobs.  Rest assured, she’ll be an asset to you, Fiona.  What about your crew?  How are they doing?”

“Quite well.  I pushed them hard during the early phase of the shakedown and they came through great,” said Sailor Siryn with a proud smile.  “I’m really gonna enjoy working with them.  Give us time and we’ll make a real name for ourselves, the fleet will hear plenty from Andromeda.  Of that I have no doubt!”  

Sailor Neptune chuckled.  “I can see that self-confidence isn’t a problem for you, Fiona.”

Sailor Siryn chuckled back.  “Never has been.  Typical Irish bullshit bravado.  Well, if you’ll give me my marching orders, ma’am, I’ll get to work.”

RSN Fleet Fighter Command, Starbase One, in high orbit over Luna, Sol system, 12 March 2740

 Squadron Commander’s Lounge

Commander Eric Leialoha stroked his chin as he considered his next move.  His brows were furrowed while he considered his options.  As four other officers, seated at a round table watched him, Leialoha knew that a great deal was riding on his decision.

“Well, Gambler?  What’s the call?” asked the man who sat next to Leialoha’s right, a squat, bald, impatient looking Cygnian.

Leialoha, a tall, strikingly handsome man of Hawaiian descent with longish dark hair and piercing blue eyes smiled slyly at the man.  Then he pushed a sizeable mound of colored poker ships in front of him to the center of the table.  “I’m all in, Razor,” he announced.

The men collectively did a double take, unprepared for Leialoha’s move.  After all, he had just bet the equivalent of nearly two million credits.

“I’m out.  Too rich for my blood,” grumbled one, tossing his two cards to the center of the table to the Cygnian who was the dealer.

“Make that two,” said another with a weary sigh and a shake of his head.  “I can’t touch that action.”

“Same here,” muttered a third.  That left the Cygnian who scowled.  He hated losing at Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, especially to Leialoha, whose reputation as a notoriously successful card shark was well known throughout the RSN fighter pilot community.  The man’s call sign was ‘Gambler’ for a reason, as Leialoha was an unpredictable risk taker, both in the cockpit and at the poker table.  The Cygnian checked his cards, an ace and jack of hearts, a good hand, his only worry was that calling Leialoha’s bet would mean going all in as well.  He decided to take the chance.

“Okay, big man, I’m all in,” he said, pushing an equally large pile of chips to the center.

Leialoha nodded.  “Excellent decision, my friend.  Let’s see a flop.”

With a nod, the Cygnian dealt three cards, face up: queen of clubs, ten of diamonds and jack of diamonds.  The Cygnian felt a buzz of excitement as he had a pair with an ace kicker, plus the ten gave him a chance for a straight.  Leialoha’s face, however, was an unreadable mask.  The turn card was a jack of spades, a card that excited the Cygnian, and it took all his will power to keep from grinning.  With a nervous hand, the Cygnian dealt the river card, the last card for the hand, the queen of spades.  Seeing that card, the Cygnian grinned like a shark, as he had great hand.

“I’ve got you, Gambler.  I’ve got you at last!” he pronounced, turning over his hole cards.  “Full house! Beat that!”

Now it was Leialoha’s turn to smile.  “I don’t have to, Krellis.  I’ll just let my ladies do that for me.”  He then turned over his hole cards, a pair of queens, making four of a kind, winning him the pot.  The Cygnian’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped while the others gasped from shock.

“Dammit!  Not again!” a frustrated Krellis rumbled. “Blast your eyes, Leialoha!  How do you always win?”

“Dumb luck, I guess.  Come to papa, my pretties,” said a chuckling Leialoha as he gathered up all the chips to his end of the table.  He then rose from the table and stretched like a cat.  “Winning gives a guy a powerful thirst.  I’ll spring for beer, guys.  Heh.  I think I can afford it.”

“Don’t screw around at the bar for long, Gambler.  You owe us another game,” Krellis growled.  “I’m gonna beat you yet!”

“You’ve been saying that for the last two days, bro.  Hasn’t happened yet, but don’t give up, the week is young,” Leialoha replied with a chuckle as he headed for the bar.  While the Hawaiian was an incredibly successful card player who rarely, if ever, lost at poker, or any game of chance, much to the frustration of everyone who played him, his easy smile and friendly personality made it virtually impossible for people to dislike him.  Even as he beat them blind.

As Leialoha reached the bar to place his order, a voice called out to him.  “Stole more lunch money from the kiddies, I see.”  

Leialoha turned and found himself facing a tall, beautiful woman with rich, brown, slightly curly hair and large amber eyes set in a smooth, tanned face with a smattering of freckles.  With a shapely figure nicely filled out in her RSN uniform, the woman wore a smirk on her lips as she held a tumbler of whiskey in a prosthetic right hand that glinted from its metallic surface.  “You should be thrown in jail for the larceny you regularly commit.”

“I don’t steal, Captain Charis.  Not at all.  That’s a terribly inaccurate assumption,” a grinning Leialoha replied to the woman.  “My passion in life is to… liberate vast sums of money from those foolish enough to think they can outplay me at cards.”

Audra Charis, Sailor Eldrea, laughed heartily.  “Uh, huh.  Passion is right.  I’m surprised you waste your time flying Battlewings when you could be richer than Serenity on the Galactic Poker circuit.”

Leialoha shrugged.  “Probably.  Actually, that did cross my mind a few years ago.  What can I say?  I love to fly.  Just like you do, captain.”

“True.  And it’s Audra, or Fullmetal to a fellow pilot.  Senshi or not, I abhor titles when I’m off-duty,” Sailor Eldrea replied.  “I’m glad my unit will be stationed on Andromeda with your squadron, Commander.  You’re one of the more celebrated pilots in the RSN.  I don’t impress easy, if at all, but your combat record is nothing short of remarkable.”

“Why, thank you.  And my name’s Eric.  It’s no big deal, really, I just do my job the very best I can.”

“Heh!  And modest too.  I don’t suppose you’re spoken for.”

Leialoha chuckled.  But, deep down, he wondered if the Senshi was trying to hit on him.  However, that didn’t shock him, as it was hardly rare for Serenity’s immortal warriors to indulge in relationships with normal human men.  “As a matter of fact, I am.”

A smirking Sailor Eldrea snapped her fingers and feigned a look of disappointment.  Leialoha realized right then and there that the Senshi was pulling his leg. “Damn the bad luck!”

“Captain Charis, Commander Leialoha, please report to Mission Control,” came a voice over the intercom.  “Captain Charis, Commander Leialoha, please report to Mission Control.”

“Looks like duty calls,” said the Hawaiian.  “Shall we go?”

The auburn Senshi nodded, then finished the rest of her drink.  “By all means.  After you.”  

After Leialoha excused himself from his playing partners, he and the Senshi walked briskly out of the lounge and boarded the nearest turbolift, which took them six floors up to the command center to meet the person who summoned them.

When they reached Mission Control and the door opened, Leialoha and Sailor Eldrea saw Sailor Siryn waiting for them.  As was always the case when Leialoha saw the Irish Senshi, his eyes wandered to her all too sizeable bosom, but only briefly as he came to attention and saluted her.  Even Sailor Eldrea raised an eyebrow at the size of the Irish woman’s chest.

“Good afternoon, Sailor Siryn.  To what do we owe the honor?” asked Sailor Eldrea in a friendly tone.  Although she was Sailor Siryn’s senior by forty years in terms of experience as a Senshi, she dutifully followed RSN protocols regarding the chain of command since she was recently assigned as Andromeda’s First Officer, and crisply saluted her commanding officer.

“Business, I’m afraid, Number One,” Sailor Siryn replied as she returned the salute.  “Effective immediately, Andromeda’s on active duty.  We’re to get underway in twenty-four hours for a one year patrol of the Alpha Zone, southern sector.”  

Hearing that, Leialoha let out a low whistle.  “Southern sector?  Whoa.  Talk about the hind end of space.  That’s no place to be when we’re only halfway through our shakedown.”

“I know, laddie.  I know.  But, Sailor Neptune wants us out there ASAP,” the Irish Senshi replied.  She gave the officers a hard look.  “I’ve already informed the department heads and we’ll have a meeting onboard in six hours to discuss our assignment.  We’ll have to do weapons testing, fighter quals and battle stations drills enroute.  I want Andromeda fully operational when we arrive on station.  No excuses.  Eric, how long will it take to get your pilots ready to fly?”

“Sixteen hours, captain, tops.  Half of the birds are finishing routine maintenance cycles.  I ordered the squadron to stick around SB-One for an awards ceremony tomorrow morning.  One of my boys, Artie’s kid brother, was just promoted to wing leader.  Guess we’ll have to do that enroute too.”

“More than likely.”  The Irish Senshi turned to Sailor Eldrea.  “What about your wing, Audra?”

“We can be ready in about the same time frame.  My support team’s stocking up on spares and tweaking the flight control systems on our ships.  Have we been assigned a specific mission?”

“No.  Just force projection.  For right now, anyway.  Serenity wants everyone to know that one of her big sticks is in the neighborhood so no one thinks about stirring up any shit.  Given where we’re going, trouble’s almost bound to come looking for us.”

Hearing that, Leialoha chuckled.  “What are you trying to do, Skipper?  Cheer me up?”

“HA!  That only happens when you’re whipping my poor Irish ass at Texas Hold ‘Em,” Sailor Siryn joked back.  “I’m sure we’ll have time for the weekly Officer’s Mess game once we’re underway.  You’re more than welcome to join us, Audra.  There’s always room for one more at the table.”

Now it was Sailor Eldrea who chuckled.  “No, thank you.  I value my pride, and my money.  And this unrepentant thief is renowned from here to the outer rim for taking both.”

Leialoha feigned anguish.  “I’m hurt at your cruel accusations, madam.  I’ll call my wing leaders and get them up to speed right away.”

“Ditto for my team,” Sailor Eldrea added.  “The Knights are eager to get back into action.”

“Good.  Eric, you can stay with the squadron, then fly out to the ship with the Knights after we’re underway.  I have a feeling this is going to be a damn interesting adventure.”

“And then some.   See you onboard tomorrow, ladies.”  After saluting the Senshi, Leialoha left the lounge.

“Got a minute, Fiona?”  Sailor Eldrea asked.

The Irish Senshi nodded.  “Sure.  What’s on your mind?”

“I want you to be honest with me.  Would I be accurate in saying you’re not entirely comfortable about my being your second-in-command?” Sailor Eldrea asked.  “You’re uneasy about my position as leader of the Seraph Knights, and the risk I regularly take of being blown to bits every time I step into my cockpit to fly into battle.”

“That had occurred to me, Audra.  Actually, I don’t worry so much about you getting killed flying missions, given your skills as a pilot, than I do about you performing your duties as First Officer, a far more crucial responsibility aboard a starship.  Plus, you’ve never been in a command position on a battleship, so that’s why I’m concerned.”

“Fair enough.  If I were in your boots, I’d voice those same concerns.  As a fighter wing leader, I’m only responsible for the seven pilots under my command.  But, as a starship captain, you have to worry about nearly two thousand people on a boat in the middle of nowhere.  You have to fully trust everyone, or no one gets back home.  That’s nothing to take lightly.”

Sailor Siryn nodded.  “You can say that again.  Even though Sailor Neptune personally vouched for you- and that’s one hell of an endorsement- I have to hear from your own lips that I can depend on you.  That you’ll be there when I need you to help me run my ship.”

Sailor Eldrea looked right into the Irish woman’s eyes with a hard, steely glare.  “You can, Fiona.  I give you my word.  On my honor, and the honor of my family who’ve faithfully served the Royal Family for over three centuries, you can depend on me, come hell or high water.  First and foremost, my place will be at your side, unless you find someone better.  Frankly speaking, that won’t happen, because there IS no one better!”

“Heh!  You sound just as cocksure as I am.  Thank you, Audra.  That means a lot,” Sailor Siryn replied.  Her heart warmed from the rock solid sound of conviction in her counterpart’s voice.  She knew right then and there that she could trust her new First Officer with her ship, her crew, and her very life.  “C’mon.  We’ve got a staff meeting to attend and a starship to get ready for duty.”  

“Right behind you… skipper!” Sailor Eldrea said with a grin.

Nimitz Dockyard

            There was a palpable buzz throughout the room as the group of assembled officers patiently, or, in some cases, impatiently awaited the arrival of their captain.

Commander Setar, a smallish, thin boned Vulcan who served as the ship’s Science Officer, sat calmly at the meeting table going over tri-level chess strategies from the recently concluded grandmaster’s tournament on Rigel Five on a microcomp.  He found the tactics of the winning players in the tournament to have been extremely fascinating.

Commander Stefan Diamantopoulos, Andromeda’s Chief Engineer (‘Topper’ as people routinely butchered his name) was one of the impatient officers.  A handsome Greek man in his late 40’s with thick, dark brown hair, he was eager to attend a symposium on Mars about the latest advances in RIFT engine technology and was annoyed at his plans having been cancelled.

Lieutenant Commander Ehlyne Saralonde, Chief Medical Officer, ‘Doc Ellie’ to the crew, a native Amaran with long, rust red hair done in a bun and graying at the temples and large, golden eyes sipped spiced Columbian coffee, exhibiting the same sort of patience as Setar.  Being a physician, she fervently believed, teaches the importance of patience.

Commander Arthur Ryvvius, the ship’s Operations Officer, a quiet but inquisitive Cygnian with a obsession for information gathering chatted about battlefield tactics from the Nebula War with Lieutenant Commander Goran Khatari, Andromeda’s Tactical Officer, a gruff, tough talking Isbanni with a passion for weaponry and explosions.  He too was impatient with the waiting.

At that moment, the double doors whooshed open and Sailor Siryn and Sailor Eldrea (having transformed into her fuku) strode in.  All at once, everyone went quiet, stood and came to attention.  The Irish Senshi nodded to her senior officers while Sailor Eldrea took her place at the chair to her captain’s right.

“Be seated, everyone,” she said before taking her seat at the head of the table.  “For starters, I want to introduce Sailor Eldrea, leader of the Seraph Knights, which will be embarked on Andromeda, and, effective immediately, our new First Officer.”

“Good afternoon.  It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Sailor Eldrea said, taking in the faces of the officers, a few of which displayed mild surprise at what they had been told.  She expected that. The Luna-born Senshi also knew she would have to work hard to earn their trust. “I’m sure we’ll all work well together.  This is a fine ship, and I’m proud to be a member of her crew.”

“On behalf of the senior officers, thank you for the compliment,” Ryvvius said with a smile.  “Welcome aboard, Sailor Eldrea.”

“All right, let’s get down to business.  I apologize for calling everyone in on such short notice, but our shore leave’s been cancelled.  As of right now, Andromeda is on active duty.  In under twenty-four hours, we get underway for the Alpha Zone.”

The eyes of the officers, save for Setar, who merely cocked an eyebrow from mild surprise, widened from the news they were told.  Murmurs began, but Sailor Siryn held up a gloved hand to quiet them.  “And before anyone mentions it, yes, I know we’re only halfway through our shakedown period.  However, Sailor Neptune wants us on station to patrol the southern sector right away.  Status reports, please.”

“The powerplants are up and running, captain.  We’ve received full certification for the RIFT and sublight engines from RSN Engineering Command,” Topper replied.  

“The Science department is ready for service,” said Setar. “Hopefully, opportunities will arise for a thorough study of the sector, which has been only sparsely explored.”

“Operations is ready for duty, captain.  AI resources are at one hundred percent readiness, and the crew is ready save for our air wing.  We’ll be ready to set sail at the appointed time,” Ryvvius replied.  “I concur that the opportunity to gather intelligence would be greatly useful.”

“Provided we’re not shot at,” Khatari growled.  Then he remembered his report.  “Tactical standing by, ma’am.”

“Ditto for Medical, captain,” Doc Ellie casually replied.  “Not to sound like a mad scientist pouring over a hot microscope, but this will give us, especially our new Counselor, a fine chance to study how well this new crew handles the stress of patrolling perhaps the most dangerous region in all of the Golden Millennium.  As a board certified psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, it should prove to be great fun.”

Sailor Siryn grinned.  She enjoyed the coyly disarming way Doc Ellie put people at ease.  “Depends on your definition of fun, Doctor.  Andromeda, what’s your status?”

“I am fully functional, captain.  Ready to fly when you are, ma’am,” came back the voice of the ship’s AI over the loudspeaker.

“Very well then.  Sailor Eldrea, start the clock.  We launch at 1400 sharp tomorrow afternoon.  Gambler’s squadron and the Seraph Knights will fly in after we launch.  That will be all.”

The Luna-born Senshi nodded.  “Acknowledged, captain.  Attention!”

With that, Andromeda’s senior officers stood up and came to attention as Sailor Siryn rose from her chair and took in her command crew.  She had only known them for little over a year, but was already proud to serve with such dedicated men and women.  “Let’s be careful out there.”

And with that, the Irish Senshi spun on her heel and left the room.

A few minutes later, Sailor Siryn entered her cabin and walked over to the replicator station.  “Mocha latte, please.  Hot with cinammon,” she said.

An instant later, a cup, bearing Andromeda’s crest, appeared on the pad with a steaming hot beverage in it.  Removing the cup, the Irish woman sipped from it and found it good.  Walking over to her desk, she sat down and stared at two pictures frames that sat on it.  One was a family gathering, Sailor Siryn, in her uniform, surrounded by her parents and four brothers, that picture was taken shortly after her graduation when she became a Senshi a decade ago.  One of the prouder moments in her life.

The other picture was of a handsome young woman with the same fiery red hair (though shorter) and bright green eyes Sailor Siryn had.  Wearing the standard RSN uniform, the color scheme pegged her right away as being a Tactical officer.  An inscription in the lower right hand corner said:  

           “Fire away, big sis!  Moira”  

Sailor Siryn’s expression became forlorn.  It had been seven years since she last saw her younger sister, an RSN officer whose promising career had been cut short after the ship she served on had been attacked in the Alpha Zone by a Dark Kingdom warship and was nearly killed.  The Irish woman activated her communications terminal.

            “Earth, Dublin, Ireland.  George M. Cassidy residence,” she said.  “Secure line, please.”

            After two long beeps, the monitor screen winked on, revealing the face of a handsome, middle-aged woman with graying hair and vibrant green eyes.  Martha Cassidy broke into a wide smile at seeing the face of her daughter.

            “Fiona.  Hello, dear.  How are you doing?” she asked in greeting.

            “I’m doing fine, mom.  How’s dad?” Sailor Siryn asked.

            “Wonderful.  He’s down at the Dublin Metro Center, practicing for next week.  He’s thrilled to be the lead tenor in the new production of La Travatore.  Will you come on opening night?  He’d love to see you there.”

            Sailor Siryn shook her head ruefully.  “Sorry, I can’t.  I just got orders.  I’ll be setting sail tomorrow and will be out of touch for at least a year.  I called for the usual reason.  Moira.  Has she contacted you?”

                Martha’s face clouded from gloom and she shook her head.  “No, dear.  We haven’t heard a thing since you last called a month ago.  We keep searching, but nothing’s turned up.  It’s been seven years after she disappeared from the RSN Rehabilitation Facility.  I know you don’t want to hear this, but maybe she’s…”

            “Dead?  I refuse to accept that!”

            “Fiona, I’m afraid you may well have to.  Your younger sister admired you so much for becoming a Senshi that she wanted to be one too.  And even after she flunked out of Tsukino, she still wanted to be with you, so she joined the RSN, hoping to serve with you.  It was her fondest dream.  What happened to her after that wasn’t your fault.”

            “I know.  But it still hurts, knowing she suffered because of that damn fool dream she had about wanting to be a Senshi.  A dream I didn’t share!” Sailor Siryn snapped.  “I didn’t have a choice about becoming a Senshi!  It was either that or spend my days as a guinea pig after what happened to me!  I never wanted this life!  But Moira, she had a choice!  She could’ve done anything!  She didn’t have to follow me into space!”

            “That’s right, honey.  She didn’t.  But Moira chose the stars.  It was what she wanted, what she longed to do.  Sweetheart, you can’t carry the guilt for Moira on your shoulders forever.  You couldn’t have prevented what happened to her.  You have to let it go, or it’ll crush you in the end.”

            The Irish Senshi was silent, anger and frustration vying with remorse for control of her emotions.  After several long moments, remorse won out.

“I know that.  But, mom, she’s my sister.  My whole world,” she said in a somber voice.  “I should’ve tried harder to get Moira stationed with me after she joined the fleet.  If I had, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

“You don’t know that.  Fiona, you can’t blame yourself for that.  In the meantime, you need to buck up.  After all, you’re a starship captain, and you have tremendous responsibilities to deal with.”  Martha paused and feigned an angry expression.  “So stop moping, you lazy, good-for-nothing bitch, or I’ll stomp on that tub of yours and drop-kick you into next year!  You’re a Cassidy, dammit!  And Cassidy women don’t act like whiny little brats!  Do you understand me, girl?”

Hearing that, Sailor Siryn chuckled.  Her somber mood broke from remembering how gruff, crude and uncompromising her mother was when she was young, giving all her children plenty of tough love when they were growing up.  “Yes, ma’am!  Whatever you say!  Thanks for the pep talk.”

“My pleasure.  That’s what mothers are for,” Martha said with a grin.  “And don’t worry, dear, we’ll keep searching.  Alive or dead, we’ll find Moira.  You just concentrate on doing your job.”

“I will.  Goodbye, mom.  I love you.”

“I love you too.”  And the screen went dark as the connection terminated.

“Mom’s right.  Time to stop being a whiny brat and get to work.  I’ve got a ship to launch and a mission to undertake,” Sailor Siryn muttered as she restored her bolder persona.  Her face strong and set, she then pressed a button on her intercom.  “Sailor Eldrea, this is the captain.  Are you busy?”

“Not at present, captain.  What can I do for you?” came back the voice of her First Officer.

“Please report to my cabin.  I want to bounce some ideas off you about battle stations drills to conduct once we’re underway.”

“Sounds intriguing.  I’ll be right down.”

TO BE CONTINUED...