Return of Skye

[Tyroflion]

//A short tale from Skye family memoirs. As always dedicated to the player of Heidi Corefall. Safe skies wherever you fly.

---

“They’re here, they’re here! Patrick saw them from the front window on the 5th deck! Quick, quick!” screamed the child leading a merry group of ten-year-olds on a mad dash towards the big windows at the front of Kadesh station’s 5th deck.

Ian just smiled at the enthusiasm of the young Phoenix Zoners before turning back to his companion.
“I see there are some even more enthusiastic and impatient than us, right Jason?”
The other man chuckled and shook his head.
“Hardly - if my dignity and old bones could take it I’d be racing them to that window! It’s been 4 years. Four long years. Ever since the Blackout they've been out there. And you know how spotty the communication has been lately due to all the squid interference,” Jason growled.
Ian nodded.
“I know. And I’m just as anxious as you are. Can’t wait to hold my wife in my arms just as you are with yours. But they’re here and it’ll take them a few hours to dock and disembark anyway. We’ll have plenty of time to enjoy watching that beautiful fleet dock.”

Less than 3 minutes later one of many elevators on Kadesh dropped them both next to the viewing platform on the 6th deck. While the 5th deck had a slightly better view - the 6th deck platform was private (part of a small bar that Jason Nesmith owned on the station and cleared by staff just for this occasion. They knew well how much old man Nesmith appreciated his privileges).

“There it is,” shouted Ian (younger of the two) as he spotted Alecto and Mithrandir - the two fighter escorts piloted by the Phoenix Zoner Skye family youngest adult members closely followed by Telcontar - Skye’s clan exploration Corvo (their oldest ship and the birthplace of the Skye Zoner clan that to this day used its many-times upgraded suit of powerful sensor arrays to always scout ahead of the Skye Fleet) appearing over planet Palmyra’s horizon as the leading elements of the incoming fleet.

“Indeed,” answered Jason with his eyes filling with tears as the rest of the ships peaked over Palmyra’s horizon and slowly, majestically approached Kadesh Orbital City. “There they bloody are!” he finished, letting out a giant sigh of relief.



Both of them watched as first Tanaris, Skye’s Fearless-class cruiser (armed to the teeth and ready to defend the family’s Fleet at any cost) then finally the flagship Dunedain (an immensely armed and armored example of the storied Nephilim-class colony ships) appeared from within Palmyra’s shadow in all their majestic beauty on approach to the station.

The moment Dunedain appeared - Kadesh station’s intercom came to life and started playing the Skye family’s hymn all over the public spaces of the station. It was an old Earth’s nostalgic ballad. Of the genre of music called “Western” if Ian remembered correctly what Heidi told him - happily humming to the final phrase of the song…
“There’s no place I can’t be since I found serenity. But you can’t take the Skye from me!”

Loud cheering could be heard from the 5th deck as more ships followed after Dunedain. This being the logistic part of the Skye fleet - Sky.Delivery the ancient ZBT-1002 “Whale” transport (capable of carrying safely all of Skye clan’s supplies needed for long exploration missions in outer space far from civilization) as well as the Skyfarer - the recently commissioned Archon modular miner (that replaced the ancient Hegemon that served Skye clan mining resources from deep space asteroids for many generations) shone brightly in Omicron Zeta’s sun as it was followed closely by Earendil - the new pride and joy of the Skyes - a Longhorn Heavy Frigate that William Skye managed to rescue from Liberty Navy’s surplus. Both Earendil and Skyfarer were ships acquired during the 4-years of the long Skye family’s journey to outer reaches of the Omicrons (and both following Skye's family naming tradition that preceeded their joining of Phoenix) - both of the new ships nonetheless were able to catch up with the Fleet due to their modern and powerful engines. As did the older but very formidable Eris. The famous Bristol Bulwark armed with guns as powerfull as it's engines served the main Phoenix Zoner fleet for several years before getting transferred to the Skye clan (and only recently paid off) and it worked perfectly as the Fleet’s rear guard - confidently protecting it from any Corsairs or Namds that would like to try their luck on raiding the Zoner fleet.

By the time Eris appeared over Palmyra’s horizon - both the Onuris and Osprey small crafts were already docked and Ian realized that Telcontar was about to start extending its docking umbilical.
“See you later Jason, it was great to catch up!” he shouted as he started sprinting towards the elevator that would take him to the 8th Deck where the Corvo was just docking so he could welcome the ship’s captain - his beloved wife Heidi properly.

Jason just chuckled. It would take much longer for his father-in-law’s Nephilim (carrying his beloved scientist wife Nicola) to dock at the station and start extending it’s many walkways and umbilicals. He had plenty of time to wait. To wait and to prepare the proper words with which to welcome his wife and tell her about the new Shukensha-class Liner he had the Renzu corporation build for the two of them - the ship that he named Sky’s Pearl in her honor. He smiled wistfully. Yes, there was plenty of time now that they were finally reunited. Now that she was home.

---

---

Disco has a way of bringing you back whether you want to or not. So yes, I'm back.
--