Building a Future

[Atreides2]

A few days has passed from the meeting on Yuma and Aeryn was contemplating his future “I am now a Governor! I keep in my hands the future of the Republic. What a chance” he was thinking and the small transport he was in quickly traversed through Tau 23 fields. “It works faster when the pilots used to fly in this field everyday”

“Enemy patrol spotted! Bearings, 112 by 99 by 09.“ came the shouted warning through the comm “Passengers, hold tight. We will do some maneuvers that will make even the race pilots on Dublin envy us” the captain said as he increased his ship. Aeryn was forced to buckle in and wait for it.

He kept looking through his small window port and he could see only asteroids but he knew they can always hide a danger, and didn’t even managed to finish his thought and he saw the ship quickly changing direction and the rocks passing him faster “We had accelerated” he thought.

Minutes passed and he could sense some gravitational problems “We are near the Tau 44 jump hole. The eddies are pretty strong. We do not have time to decrease our speed.” Captain said and he could be heard continuing over the comm “Recalculate the Vectors and adjust. Make sure to take into consideration the speed and also the ship integrity. Prepare to drop out on inertia mode and launch a probe through the Hole. Ship to follow 7 seconds later. Not earlier or we will be blasted by Sulawesi.”

Sulawesi Citadel, the station that escaped the war mostly untouched and the one that kept watch over Tau 23 jump hole. Whoever would have enter the system would meet the weapons of the station plus of the CAP that now has been enforced by a large detachment of CIS units and the Battlegroup Atlantis, Aeryn though, my assets now.
The ship entered the hole and soon he could see the wormhole corridor and he remembered that nature is a force to be reckoned and his thoughts went to the Stories of Crayter “What if.. ?”

He couldn’t finish his thought as he was already in Tau 44 and he saw Nyx taking position near the ship “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Tau 44. Please be aware that this is still a contested territory and Gallic incursions still happen. The system is now under military rule until the new governor is arriving.” Aeryn chuckled a little and he smiled, “The Governor is here” he thought.

He watch the ship passing near Sulawesi and continuing through the asteroid field and then a new sight was in front of them. Borneo. His place is there.

“Ladies and gentlemen, passengers on the Ares Logistic ship Phoebe, welcome to Minato Station. We will proceed the docking procedures immediately. Please be aware that parts of the stations are still open to space. “

“Well , here we go“ Aeryn thought as he took his travel bag from the checkpoint and continue to embark one of the shuttles which will descend on to Borneo.

Few hours later, a shuttle descended from the skies and headed to one of the few tropical islands that the planet’s tropical islands “We are now approaching Gemini Colony. Temperature is 33 degrees and the time is 14:20 BST. Please make sure you are staying in within the Colony as our Forces will try to establish security lines back to the way it where. Thank you for using the shuttle service of ILL”

Aeryn looked over the window and he saw the architecture that was strongly influenced by Crayter and also he noted the strong ancient greek designed of the buildings and he remembered that Gemini Island was designed to be the Capital of Borneo. “Amazing. Just amazing. Where in Sirius would you find this?”

The ship took a long turn and the harbour of the Colony could be seen, guarded by two huge statues depicting two Ancient Greek Soldiers, standing an attention , a sign that the City is guarded.

The ship plotted a course toward the Local Spaceport, an improvisation now as the main station had been neglected by the Gauls and flown in between the statues “For those we left behind” Aeryn said softly, wishing that he would be having the planet fully colonized already. The shuttle slowly touched down and they prepared to disembark.

A Cheetah was near the landing pad and a driver which looked familiar was searching the group.

“Marino, is that you? How you got here?“ Aeryn said recognising his old friend from the times of the Exodus “Well, I was assigned with the Hephaestos and then moved to the new Governor and then I read your name. Would be good to work with you!”

“You are my PA?”

“Yes, what you expected , a cute Kusarian?"

“Heh, one can hope, isn’t it?”

Exchanging friendly words they approached the vehicle and continue to drive toward the Manitoa Settlement and Aeryn could see that there was some work to be done, not a lot but still, years of neglect took it’s toll.

“Well, and then I just went to the bar and I had a pint and guess what?“ Marino asked “She came and gave me her interlink ID. How lucky can I be?”

“So you seeing her?“

“Yeah, maybe you will be invited as the Godfather” Marino continued as he parked his car near a building which imitate the Pantheon “Welcome home. The House Guard is already in place. Your dormitory is in the left wing and your private work room there also. In the centre you are having the ceremonial room and in the right wing you have most of the administrative apparatus and the chief engineers for the projects. Since now time had passed, I guess is only you and the Guards. “

“Ok, see you tomorrow Marino, and remember, be smart … don’t get yourself knocked out”

“I will, don’t worry” Marino laughed and he depart the building.

Aeryn saluted the Guards as he was passing them and he was making his way towards his rooms.”Tomorrow is better to start” he said to himself.

After a frugal dinner and a sonic shower, his mind refused to rest and he headed towards the work room and opened the computers and the pads. He just reminded that he still is having his side arm and carefully, placed it near him. “We are still a warzone” he reminded himself and he started to read through the reports late in the night

The morning found Aeryn in his bedroom and he again needed a few minutes to realise where he is “Gemini Colony, Borneo, Tau 44.” The holographic clock showed 01:40 BST “Damn I overslept” and he rushed to have a bath and get ready.

As he was headed towards his desk in the right wing he took the small comm and contacted Marino “Can I please have the Engineers in charge of Minato and Borneo report to me?“

“Yes sir and good morning! The coffee is waiting for you in the office and you have the morning news and reports on your desk. Please remember that at 17:00 we have a schedule inspection over the Orion.”

“Understood! And thank you Marino for not waking me up. Had problem falling asleep.”

“I understand sir. Is just the adjustment period from Yuma to Borneo”

“Yes. Adjustment” Aeryn mumbled and he entered his office and took a sit behind the desk. Sipping from his cup of coffee he started to read the reports “Good coffee. Almost makes it as a reward for wearing this side gun” he though and he waited the arrival of the Minato Chief Engineer.