Chapter 9

Back on duty

It has been a wonderful year off with many changes, some good and some not. Our favorite cook on the space station, Trina, has moved back to earth and is now mother to twins. The XT-1 has undergone extensive refurbishing with all the latest technology and now awaits our return

I kiss mama and the twins goodbye and promise to send her a dozen lunar roses and she promises me a dozen pies on my return. I'll defiantly be back.

As the shuttle lifts off, images of past adventures and narrow escapes race through my mind and I wonder what new ones await. It seems I was just starting to doze when the intercom cracked, " Luner landing in 5 minuets, we hope you enjoyed your flight".

The doors opened and I was greeted by long time friend, Ensign Andy, " General Gray requests your presents at a briefing at 17;30 hours in conference room C, Caption. Thanks Andy, we'll see you there

On the way to my quarters, I popped into the commissary to say hi and tip back a few milks. Among the crowd were a few of the old crue, Eddie, Dan, Annie, and Rico. " Welcome back Captain, drinks are on us ". Thanks guys, its good to be back.

After a short nap and shower, I proceeded to conference room C where General Gray was waiting for me,

Good afternoon captin, did you enjoy your vacation?

Sure did, and I see the XT-1 is all polished up and ready to go

She sure is , and I'm sure your going to like some of the new feathers, which by the way you'll be testing out tomorrow. There's going to be a full lunar eclipse and I want you to be out there in it to take some pics of our friends the Ants. We have a new camera that can take high resolution pictures of a dime in total darkness at a distance of 10 miles.

Really? maybe I can snap a few of my kids back on earth while I'm at it, with your permichen of course

Be my guest, but business first,,by the way, here's a roster of your crue, if you approve, just sign at the bottom

OK, lets have a look

Science officer--------Bonni

Medical Officer--------Sugermags

Engineering--------------MeWolf

Communications--------Val

Cook--------------------------Charlie

Helm------------------------Pi-E

Looks good except this bonni character, isn't she that trouble maker from Calaphonia?

Yes she is but Lt. Red beard straightened her out on a few things and I think she's your best choice

OK, we'll give her a shot

I signed the document, handed it to the general and was dismissed. After supper I went over the training report of each of the crew, all in the top of there class, sure felt good to be flying again with such a great crew.

0500 rolls around and I meet with my officers to brief them on the days mission

0600 finds us boarding the XT 1

Stations everyone, systems check

science station? go sir

Medical? all personal go sir

engenering? engines on line sir

communications? on line sir

cook? pies in the oven sir

Pi-E? yes sir, apple, your favorite

no no no , Helm helm is go sir

OK Pi-E take us out, 1/3 impulse, 10 degrees north ,altitude 10 miles

aye sir

The ship couldn't of run smoother, there was a slight whine of the engines as she lifted off but it was like sitting in your living room. Altitude was reached in no time and the eclipse was just beginning. Looking out the window, you could see the Earth with a corona around it. On the other side was the dark moon

Helm, take us to cordnance 799627ba664, bonni, bring that new camera on line and see if you can pick out that dime at those coordanance. Val, when the images start coming in, send them to LB3.

aye eye sir

Bonni flicks the switch and intently watches the instruments and her view screen, After a couple minuets, bonni reports,"I think we have something sir"

Great, put it on the big screen, full magnification

Sure enough, laying at the bottom of a crater was a dime and the image was so clear you could read the year, 1969. You couldn't ask for better test results,,, or could you

" Threes something else here you should see caption" replied bonni

OK on screen

sure enough, 50 meters away in the dust were Ant tracks, leading to a well concealed door in the side of the crater

Val, don't send the track pictures

aye sir

Helm, return to base

on the way sir

Back at Moon base 1, General Gray is

meeting with captain camper and captain Codger of the talon squadron

Gen.Gray- Gentlemen, we have a problem and we need more information. Captin codger, I need you to capture an ant with out the colony knowing about it, dead or alive makes no difference. Captin camper, I want you to time jump back to the hollow moon where you were going to meet with the aliens, find out all you can about our insect friends.

Ideas were exchanged and strategies plotted over pie and coffee for the next two hours, the next great adventure was about to began

" Stations everyone",barked captain camper, everyone was eager to get going. "Take us into orbit Pi-E" aye sir

Once in orbit the captain opened an envelope containing secret orders and the time calculations for the jump. A computer disk was handed to MeWolf who slipped it into the computer. It wasn't long before the engines started to whine, lights flashed and Val fell out of her seat, ( due to an electrical device that some sneak prevesly planted ). Time and space seemed to freeze as the XT 1 streaked across the galaxy to a point in time so close to there departure that if you blinked you would miss it. There we were again, following an alien ship into a hollow moon. It was dark except for two rows of red lights that seemed to be guiding us.

Val A message coming if from the alien vessel sir

Captain camper put it on speakers

Alien voice XT 1, power down your engines, our tractor beams will take it from here

Captain Camper Helm, power down

Pi-E eye captain

It seemed to take forever, following red lights for miles under the surface till finally we were drawn into a docking port. When the doors opened and we were allowed to leave this ship, we were met by a tall well built humanoid with pail greenish skin

Alien Welcome to Vicron 3, my name is Spocto, I will show you to your quarters and later show you around our city.

We followed him through some tunnels that appeared to be underwater then up an elevator shaft to several suits that overlooked a lake

Spocto I hope you will be comfortable here, i'll be back later after you have rested. If there's anything you would like, just press this button, we have excellent room service

The dining room was as elegant as any five star hotel. We were seated next to some windows that looked into a huge aquarium where there must of been a hundred types of sea food. Soft music was playing as three huge trays were rolled up, each containing a huge lobster swimming in hot butter. Sugermags had just finished tying on her bib when an alarm went of, the lights dimmed to red and Spoctos communicator sparked to life.. Seems Vicron was under a massive Ant attack and all available ships were needed,, even the XP1

Chapter ten