Posted by Civilian Revna Freya McKenzie (Resident) in Somewhere Between Here and There

Posted by Civilian Michael ‘Big Mike’ McKenzie (Clan McKenzie Chief) in Somewhere Between Here and There

Posted by Civilian Runa Siff McKenzie (Teacher) in Somewhere Between Here and There
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“Let’s get something to eat.” Capall said and he walked with her out of the stables.

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Five Months Later....

=/\= Lord and Lady McKenzie to the Bridge, please. =/\= the voice of the ship’s captain said over the comms. The last three weeks had been the busiest time for the Clan since their on-boarding. Preparations were being made to disembark onto their new home: Oed V. They had been training, practicing, and preparing for this event every day for months on end. Some were resistant, and they would be departing Oed to go back to Earth just as some who had originally declined the opportunity were now making their way from the traditional Clan lands on Earth to the (hopefully not for much longer) barren land of Oed V.

Capall looked at Runa and said “Well… this is it, my lady. Are you ready?” He was dressed in his formal great kilt and looked every bit the Scottish Lord that he was. It had taken time for him to adjust to the new role in the Clan hierarchy; and it took some others time to adjust tohim in the role as well. Bu those… ‘conversations’… had been had; and now it was time for Lord and Lady McKenzie to make their first formal contact with the Oedian government.

Capall McKenzie

Runa was dressed in traditional Nordic style. Underdress, apron dress, belt, broaches, but instead of her cape, she wore a tartan shawl of McKenzie colors. “You know it really should be Mike and Revna doing this, but I swear if they aren’t waiting at the hatch…” she let the words trail off as she tucked her hand onto Capall’s arm. “I’m ready. Let’s go see about our new home, Lord McKenzie.” She stretched up slightly and kissed him, “For luck, and for later.”

Runa McKenzie

The doors to the lift opened onto the bridge and they stepped out. The Captain smiled at them and said “We are about to drop out of warp and I thought you might want to be here to handle any governmental inquiries.” Capall nodded and said “Thank you, Captain.”

The stars suddenly snapped into view as the ship dropped out of warp. They were just outside of the system, but there was a good deal of traffic going to and from the planet. The Captain said “Huh. That’s new. Last time we were here there wasn’t nearly this amount of traffic. Colony must be doing pretty well.” The Comms officer looked up and said “Captain, Lord and Lady McKenzie. There is a call from Oed V Colonial Customs and Defense Agency. They are asking to speak to Lord and Lady McKenzie.” The Captain nodded and said “Put it up on the screen.” There was a pause and then the main screen came to life…

Mike, Revna, Seamus, and Ragna stood in a room. Mike smiled and said “About time you all got here. What, you take the scenic route or somthin’?” and he chuckled.

The McKenzies

Runa was flushed with happiness to see them and she grinned. “We sure did. Most of the folks on board won’t ever get to see any of the places we passed. We had to accommodate them. They are ready to feel solid ground again.” She looked at Ragna and Seamus, “And you two can collect your children. We are done baby-sitting.”

Runa

Seamus laughed loudly and smiled. “I can only imagine. Big dunb git… gods above I have missed him!” and he laughed again.

Seamus McKenzie, Director of Conservation

“They’ve missed you, and you’ve gained a child. And I swear Mike, I think Aotrom might go wild after this. They need room to run. So what’s the proceedure?”

Runa

The Captain spoke up. “We will first be piloted into the orbital traffic of the colony. Then we wait for Customs to clear us. That can be a few hours… or a few days. Then we request landing clearance and drop through the atmosphere and land at the site designated by you. Then we help you unload, set up, and go pick up our next contract.”

Captain of the Beck

Runa turned to look at the captain, “Thank you, Captain,” she said with genuine appreciation. She looked back at the screen, “Well since you’re calling from the Colonial Customs and Defense Agency what do you need from us Mike? We’ve got the medical scans and vaccinations for everyone and the updated cargo manifest ready to go.”

Runa

Mike grinned and said “I need you guys to start sorting out folks in what kind of place they want to live. Mountains, ocean, or forest.” and he chuckled. “Capall, go ahead and tell her… if you haven’t already, that is.” and he winked at his cousin. Capall sighed and said “I already did.” and then he shook his head. “And I think she was wanting to have a few words with you about that, by the way.” and he looked at Runa and smiled even as he tossed her under the bus.

Mike / Capall

Runa nudged Capall with an elbow even as she transmitted the files over for the CCDA to begin processing, “Oh Aye, I do, brother, but later when we aren’t taking up official channels. Just remember what Da said about Twins.”

“The land was ocean coast with good farmland.” Revna looked between them. Choose? They had made that choice when they decided between which land parcel to purchase. “Alright, stop keeping secrets. Mike?”

Runa/Revna

Mike smiled and said “Well… I might have gone and done a little sumtin’-sumthin’ without telling all of ya.” and he laughed. “So you know that parcel we purchased? The one that was just about a hundred thousand acres? Yeah… so here’s the thing.” Mike smiled and said “What I didn’t tell any of you was that I also purchased the adjoining two properties as well.” The committee had been torn on which of the three to buy. One was broad and flat spreading up into mountains and geological surveys said that once water was available and the microbial life had been reinstated the soil would be ideal for farming. One was pretty rugged but the topography indicated it had once been the shoreline of a large sea or ocean. The last, in the middle of the three, was known to have been forested before the comet strike and held dry rivers and streams. “And before you all freak out. It costs us nothing right now. Nothing. The previous owners have given up on Oed ever amounting to anything, so they agreed that if- and only if- the clan is able to live on the land uninterrupted for a hundred years the land will be ours. The clock starts from the time the first one of us sets foot on the property. From then on, a Clan member has to be on the land at all times. If we can do that, then the land becomes ours for the asking price as it sits now. If we don’t, then we immediately have to buy the property at double the then current assessed value. And because for as long as we have had a home, the McKenzie Manor stood as the head of the Clan. But on Oed, we are going to have so much more space to deal and manage, one place as the Clan’s center doesn’t make much sense. So, we are going back to the old Edman ways. One house for the Chiefs in each area, with a central building for the Clan Chief and formal events and gatherings that are important. So Seamus and Ragna are gonna have an estate in the forested area and be the Chiefs there, me and Revna are gonna be on the coast… and Capall and Runa are going to take the role of Chiefs for the mountains.” and he smiled.

Mike McKenzie

Revna stared at Mike. He was exceptionally proud of what he had done. The deal was a good one, and one that should be easy enough to uphold. She was glad he’d been able to make the deal. The idea of sub-chiefs wasn’t strange to her. Revna, Runa, and Ragna had been raised to know that was how it would be with them.

Looking at the rest of them, it was clear most of this wasn’t news to either of her sisters or their husbands. So really Revna was the only one in the dark. It was a good plan, and one Revna agreed one-hundred percent with. She couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret. She wished Mike had at least told her about it. They were supposed to be in this together. She wasn’t mad though. Mike had been doing most of it on his own since they left Earth after the reconciliation. Revna had been busy trying to end her tour with the Diplomatic Corp and get back to Mike. None of it showed on her face though. It was on her, and she would be more involved from now on.

“So how far behind is this going to put us? We need power and water run to the additional land before people can start to settle.”

“It’s already done.” Ragna said. “When I found out, by accident, I had the permits adjusted to include the whole property and everything has been run and is ready to go. I even kept the temporary housing we rented for the work crews. There isn’t room for everyone, but those most in need will have a place.”

Revna, Lady McKenzie

Capall actually smiled and said “So now is when Runa and I get to give you our surprise then.” He looked at Runa. “We hit on an idea while we were leaving Earth. Runa got a full topological survey done of the entire property. I programmed that into the ship’s holodecks, and we have had the entire clan spending g days or even weeks at a time practicing setting up all of the critical needs we will have. They all know now where to put it, how to assemble it, and can power and repair probably eighty percent of all of our equipment.”

Capall McKenzie