Posted by Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm “Astro” Dawkins (CAG) in A New Adventure - CAG Arriving
Shore Leave had been… wonderful. Malcolm wished with all his heart he was still on that beach in Maui, soaking up sun and watching Ellie’s perfect form get more & more tan. When he had gotten Orders to OP42, it had meant a two month stand down. Which meant he got true free time and more importantly, after nine grueling months apart, he and Ellie finally had time to spend time with each other. After a few weeks of seeing each others families (thank God Fleet let Ellie take Holiday on short notice!), the two had zipped off to Hawaii for more sun, more food, and more… carnal… activity than he thought was physically possible. He shivered thinking of the intensity of their last week there together, both giving their all to enjoy each other before being separated once more due to the “needs of the Corps”.

Their last night was like a dream, Malcolm and Eleanor walking hand in hand on white sand under a brilliant starry sky. The tears in her eyes as she squealed “YES!” when he asked her to marry him right there on the beach. The passion-fueled night that followed leading to the two thoroughly exhausted pilots nearly missing their flight back to Pitts for Christmas with her family before New Years at a little B&B in Galveston, and time with his family before they both left for new assignments.

But it was worth it! Nearly two years dirt side in Houston as CO of the SFMC Recruiting Station in Houston and promotion to Lt. Colonel to boot. Now this! Returning as CAG to not just any post. CAG of Outpost 42, former haunt of famed Marine Aviators like Calvin Harris and Devri Hudson… now, Malcolm Dawkins would get to add his name to the same list! As his daydreams shifted between memories of trysts with Ellie and those of fighter pilot glory, the transport settled into its’ buffers and the lights came up slightly, signaling their arrival. Grabbing his bag and jacket, Mal Dawkins was out the door in moments, ready for a new adventure.

LTC Malcolm “Astro” Dawkins, CAG

Astro headed out into the massive station and, just like on Halcyon, he was instantly lost. Walking over to the first uniform he saw, the Command Rated aviator sounded almost sheepish asking. “Pardon me Miss…” Malcom’s south Texas twang clearly noticeable. “… would ya’ happen ta’ know where I migh’t find da’ Command Deck? Or hell, da’ Hanger Bay would be nice!” At 6’ and solid, the dark skinned, curly haired pilot looked very much a man of his family’s deep African American roots.

Dawkins, CAG