Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Memory: Luna

Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Memory: Luna

Posted by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) in Memory: Luna
Posted by… suppressed (12) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Orders came in mid March. Special assignment, 3 months. They were going to Luna. This year they didn’t have to figure out their gear, the list was given to them. They had 2 weeks to get their personal packs ready and get their shuttle ready. Blackjacks were the only squad getting to fly themselves because of Helena. The other squads were getting taken out by 3rd year students.

The shuttle had to be packed and balanced correctly and full maintenance done. Billy wasn’t cleared, but with permission, Helena and Billy did extra sessions and he was cleared to fly with Helena.

The mission: 4th years had been on Luna all year helping to build the biodomes for a new colony city - New Berlin. Now that it was done, the second year’s were going and building the infrastructure. They would be landing at Tranquility Base where Apollo 11 landed almost 200 years before. They would be gone 3 months. Their work evaluated and graded and determine their final scores for the year. Helena couldn’t wait to get there.

Helena

“Marcy! No way! Three months?” Lucy hadn’t been happy about the news. “Lucy… It’s our end of year mission. Just like last year. This one is even safer than last year’s. Just a little longer.” Marceau had argued. “Safer? You’re going to be in space! For three months! How is that safer!” Marceau considered that. “Well, there are no wild animals. No risk of exposure either.”

“No,” said Lucy dryly, “Only suffocating in the vacuum of freaking. Space!” The argument went on like that for a while until Marceau let out a long sigh. “Lucy… What do you think Starfleet is? I will be in space for years at a time. If you can’t deal with that, maybe you should date someone who isn’t in Starfleet.”

To that Lucy began to cry. She hugged him tightly and shook her head, “Marcy, no. Don’t go talking like that. Please. I don’t want to break up with you.” Marceau hugged her back. “Then no more fighting about this. Okay? We’ll celebrate when I get back.” Lucy was reluctant but nodded. “Okay.”

Today, the day they were leaving for the mission, Marceau was nervous. Earth flights were bad enough. He’d barely managed the orbital missions. All the way to the moon though? In a shuttle? He might faint. He was trying not to look too scared while they waited to board the shuttle.

~ Marceau

Helena, Billy, Kenson, and Flenza had been at the shuttle all morning completing the preflight checks and having the instructors going over their work. So when the squad arrived they were all ready to go. Packs were loaded and secured and everyone was boarded and strapped in.

Helena put a hand on Marceau’s shoulder, “This will be great. Smoother than a regular plane. I promise. I’m your pilot. Nothing will go wrong.”

Helena

Marceau nodded but he was still shaking like a leaf. “Let’s hurry up and get it over with.” He smiled at Helena. “You won’t let anything go wrong.” Then he climbed into the shuttle and harnessed himself into his seat, trying not to think too much about it.

~ Marceau

Marceau sat directly behind her, Billy in the seat beside her. =/\=Academy ground control this is Shuttle Nova ready for take off.=/\= the excitement in Helena’s voice was catching, even for Marceau.

=/\=Shuttle Nova you are clear for flight to Luna. Direct flight, increase z-quadrant 30° after exciting orbit. We will be watching.=/\=

Helena and Billy exchanged a grin, =/\=Roger that, Sir. See you in three months.=/\= Billy replied. The comms went quiet and the shuttle hummed and there was the feel of rising like in an elevator for 2 seconds and then out the window the ground became smaller as they rose. Helena turned the shuttle in a slow bank, “Brace for G’s while we break atmosphere.” There was some chatter back and forth between Helena and Billy. Helena reached back and squeezed Marceau’s hand and then the force of their acceleration pushed them all into their seats.

Marceau was excited for the mission, just not the flight. He squeezed Helena’s hand and then gripped the seat as the acceleration pulled him back.

There were no rough patches or shaking of the shuttle or jarring, just the speed. The horizon became bright white and then blue and then vast blackness. The shuttle slowed and the pressure stopped and they floated above the blue white orb of Earth.

Several of the squad commented on how easy the ride had been. None of them had flown up with Helena yet. Billy bragged for several minutes about the work Helena had been doing. Especially since she had all the isolated alone time because of Lucy. Helena broke orbit anglingvthe shuttle up 30° to a higher travel lane. There the instructors could watch her and Billy. Nothing fancy and not a lot of traffic. It took a couple hours at impulse speeds to get there.

Helena

It was an easy ride, thanks to Helena’s flying. Marceau only relaxed when they were getting close, though. Marceau tried to look out the front of the pod to see the moon. “When we first touch down we are supposed to check in so they can tell us what to do.” He said, remembering the directions.

~ Marceau

Billy called in their approach and soon the the grey rock surface of the moon was rising up to meet the shuttle. “Don’t forget Luna has no atmosphere so we are docking with an airlock. We’ll be graded on how well we execute that procedure. Everything we do is being graded,” Kenneth reminded them.

“Also the shuttle is going back so don’t leave anything behind. A crew is waiting to unload the supplies we brought but personal items are your responsibility,” Billy told them, “Helena and I will be a few minutes behind. We have to a post flight check before the next crew takes over the shuttle.”

“Also stay away from airlocks and report any air pressure changes you notice. We’ll be given evo-suites to work outside. The dome for New Berlin isn’t pressurized yet. We’re working on that so be careful and always have someone double check the seals on your suit,” Akela reminded them.

“As much as we are graded on what we remember to do on our own, also always follow all instructions given by instructors or staff. We want everything to go well and everyone to be safe.” Marceau added.

Helena was quiet, concentrating on the landing. They’d been given the worst docking port of the bunch. It required the shuttle to be backed in and then angled under the station’s hatch to dock with the roof port of the shuttle. It was narrow with NO room for margin. Students were never assigned to this port. There was of course a reason the instructors had assigned Blackjacks to this port - Helena. Helena hadn’t been this nervous about flying since she had moved from the co-pilot’s seat to the pilot’s seat the first time. She swung the shuttle around and lined up with what was basically a tunnel. She blew out a breath as she stared at the readings. Billy reached over and squeezed her hand. “You got this. I’ve seen you do harder things in a bi-plane.”

Marceau reached up and touched her shoulder gently. “If anyone can make this landing it’s you.”

Helena nodded and switched the shuttle over to manual thrusters and then after 3 of the longest minutes of her life, the shuttle angled down into the tunnel and came to hover right under the airlock port. Not one bump or scrape. Helena didn’t pull out of the docking procedure and start over either.
The shuttle rose the 3 centimeters until the maglock engaged. Kenson engaged the airlock seal and they heard the his and whine of the tunnel pressurizing and the lights around the hatch turned green and Helena finally let out the breath she had been holding.

Helena

Once the airlock sealed and the tunnel pressurised, Marceau started moving. “Let’s get out of the way so Helena and Billy can do their post flight checks. Grab any personals and let’s go.” He unbuckled himself and gathered his things, and then waited for everyone else to exit first. He’d rather be the first off, but he was the Captain, it made sense to him to go last and then he could do a final sweep for belongings.

~ Marceau

Helena and Billy started the computerized checks while everyone else helped unload the supplies and got their gear and left. It took an hour to finish, with an instructor hanging around over their shoulders watching everything they did. When they were done, Billy and Helena grabbed their packs and climbed out the hatch into the station proper.

“Cadet Laursen!” Helena stopped and did a perfect about-face… Captain Driscoll. The head flight instructor who also had a seeming soft spot for the senior year cadets. He liked using Helena as a way to antagonize the other 4th year pilots and it made Helena’s life difficult. But he was never unfair with her personal reviews and grades. “Yes Cpt.”

“Come with me.” He started walking and paused when Billy followed as well. “Not you Jones., just Laursen. Go meet your squad.” Billy didn’t like it, but, “Yes, Sir,” he moved off down the corridor and was directed toward the barracks where the rest of the squad was settling in.

Helena

Marceau was already down the hall, helping the others settle on and get set up so he didn’t notice Helena hadn’t come until he saw Billy heading towards them by himself. “Where’s Helena?”

Billy shrugged, “Captain Driscoll asked for her.” Billy’s tone didn’t instill confidence in Marceau, but there was nothing to do but ask Helena later. “Let’s get settled in so we are ready as soon as possible.” Marceau said.

~ Marceau

It was another hour before Helena appeared in the barracks. The squad was already in the mess for a meal before starting. Helena stowed her pack and quickly made her way there, just as everyone was finishing. She grabbed a meal bar and a bottled water and joined the rest as they were finishing up.

Helena

When they finished up and were starting to head back, Marceau spoke to Helena quietly at the back of the group. “What did Captain Driscoll want? Anything bad?”

~ Marceau

“He wanted to know how I cheated.” Helena shook her head and shrugged. Then she described the encounter to Marceau. Driscoll had yelled and gotten right in her face; he had been really aggressive about it. Questioning her over and over about it. Accusing her of having an automated program take over or linked to a more experienced pilot. After an hour he had suddenly shook her hand, given her an ‘outstanding’ on the performance review and dismissed her. With a ‘don’t screw up Cadet’, on her way out. “It was weird.”

Helena

Marceau looked a little horrified and very confused. “It’s that unbelievable that you pulled off that landing?” He shook his head. “Maybe you ought to keep your head down when he is around.” They were reaching the barracks and he pointed out her spot. “Better get settled in.”

~ Marceau

Helena nodded, “Yes, Sir,” and grabbed her bag by the door and stored it in the attached foot locker. “All settled.” Billy came over and asked her what was going on, but she didn’t have an answer really.

“Alright Cadets! Time to suit up.” It was Driscoll. “Laursen! Jones!” Helena and Billy stepped forward, “Yes, Sir!”

“You two can drive lunar rovers? Your qualifier say you can.”

“Yes, Sir!”

Driscoll eyed Helena like she was a gnat, “You sure? Or you need someone to remote control it for you?” Billy bristled.

“I can drive it on my own, Sir.” Driscoll grunted, “Think we’ll let Jones drive. That’s not a problem is it?” He watched Helena as he handed the key card to Billy. “No, Sir! Cadet Jones is an excellent pilot and navigator.”

“Of course he is, I wouldn’t pick him if he wasn’t.” He looked at the rest of the squad, gauging their reactions. “EVA suits! You’re going for your first shift. And someone check Laursen before you go out. Don’t need her to try and prove she can breathe in the vacuum of space.” And he left.

Helena

Marceau watched the exchange with disgust. Not just because Helena was his friend, but also because singling out a Cadet, especially as a high ranking officer like a Captain, was wrong. If it continued he wasn’t sure who to report it to though. He was not afraid of the EVA suits, in fact he was excited. He smiled at Helena. “You’re going to need to check my suit, not the other way around.”

~ Marceau