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Memory: Luna

Posted May 23, 2023, 11:10 a.m. by Lieutenant Helena Laursen (Helm/Nagivation Officer) (Jennifer Ward)

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

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

Posted by Captain Marceau Renault (Commanding Officer) in Memory: Luna
Posted by… suppressed (37) 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 qualifiers 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

Helena just nodded and kept her mouth shut. Their first shift went well and the ones after that. They all received top marks. Some things they had to redo. Their work was textbook, but what they had to redo was teaching them practical knowledge. The EVA suits were fun, and the gravity was low. They had fun with that too. It took a few days to adjust to the lower gravity, but they learned a lot.

Everything wasn’t fun though. By the end of the week, Helena was miserable. Driscoll wouldn’t let up. He still graded her fairly, but every chance he got there was some jab, some snide remark, some judgement on her character. Helena had no idea what had caused it. So when she heard he was going back to Earth her relief was tangible.

Helena

Marceau could tell she was miserable. He still wanted to turn the Captain in. He was glad the Captain would be gone and maybe Helena could enjoy her time here like everyone else had been. Marceau had been nervous at first but had grown to like the suits, the work, and even the gravity. There were a lot of things you could do in low gravity you couldn’t on Earth as the squad had quickly discovered.

~ Marceau

The next week was amazing. They helped to finish digging the tunnels and caverns and then pressurize the biodome for New Berlin. There was a huge party the night the tests came back positive. Held inside the still empty biodome, sans EVA suites, even the Cadet teams were allowed to attend. Helena had a blast. Dancing in lower g’s was a new top favorite experience, only topped by dancing with Marceau in the lava tunnels at summer solstice.

Helena

Marceau had ended up telling somebody else on base about Driscoll’s behavior towards Helena after the Captain had left. When they danced he’d gone over to Helena and smiled, “Inside a glacier, in lava caves, now in space. What other extreme environments will we dance in?”

~ Marceau

Helena swayed and turned and bounced with the music. “Underwater at the Mariana Trench observation station. Oh! Zero Gs on our space walk next month!” Helena laughed, eyes dancing. She hadn’t been that carefree in months, except for that summer trip home.

Marceau smiled at her again, “Okay, then. We will. Both of them.”

Hannah danced with everyone, especially everyone in the squad. She had missed getting to socialize with them, and once Lucy had discovered Helena’s specific restriction, Helena felt like she used it on purpose. Kenneth had lifted that particular restriction the week before they left, but Helena found that after all that time absent she no longer had a tolerance for Lucy. So that night was amazing, and Helena soaked it up, until curfew when they had to suit up and head back. The next day they would be moving into New Berlin to continue the work.

Helena

Marceau hadn’t realized how much he missed hanging out with Helena until then. Every time Helena showed up, so did Lucy, and even after Kenneth let Helena off her restrictions, Helena still seemed to steer clear of Lucy. It made him sad, because he wanted to spend time with both of them. He stayed just as long as Helena and was exhausted the next day when they had to get back to work.

~ Marceau

Helena on the other hand was energized after the late night. She was like an Energizer Bunny going around helping everyone pack their and get it strapped to the rover. She easily laughing and humming and dancing around. She was herself and it made everyone laugh. Gerard especially enjoyed the return of her normal self.

Helena was assigned to assist engineering with setting up buildings and framing in the tunnels. Not her normal expertise, but there wasn’t much need for to fly anywhere at the moment.

Helena

Marceau, meanwhile, was helping build and stock the medical bay. Occasionally he would be called to treat some minor injury, and then it was back to work. It wasn’t Marceau’s favorite work, but he did it without complaint.

~ Marceau

Another cadet on the Jackdaws, made the mistake of complaining they wanted something exciting to do, in front of one of the teachers. That proceeded a lot of extra ‘busy work’ for that squad. Helena was glad it wasn’t them.

Things went great the next week until Driscoll returned. Helena was in the large cavern were all the cadets were bunked at. She’d finished a double shift and was trying to wind down to get some much needed sleep before her next shift.

Yvette was heading to do the same after dinner when she spotted Driscoll doing a unofficial inspection of the work they had been doing. She did a quick turn about and found Marcea and Kenneth in the mess. “Driscoll’s back.”

Helena

When Marceau heard Driscoll was back from Yvette, he finished eating quickly and headed back to their bunks to find Helena. “Yvette saw Captain Driscoll inspecting our work. I thought you might want to know before you run into him.”

~ Marceau

The next weeks made Helena seriously consider what she was doing. It wasn’t like if she quit she had to stop flying. She just wouldn’t go into space. It was weird, Driscoll continued to grade her fairly, but there was always some negative and antagonistic criticism otherwise. Even comments on her social activities, not that they had much time for that. Helena took extra shifts, spent any down time studying, anything that kept her busy and that might stop Driscoll for criticizing her unfairly. Helena didn’t mind being judged harshly but there was nothing in his comments told her what she had done wrong or how to go about correcting the error.

It all came to a head middle of the second month. 4 of the cadets from Raven Squad had gotten hurt and were confined to the infirmary. Helena, like several other cadets, had volunteered to take a shift to help out. She was coming off of 20 hours straight after a couple of doubles before that and had just rolled into her bunk for a few hours of sleep. The rest of the Blackjacks were gearing up for their shifts when Driscoll entered and scanned the room. “Where the h#!! is Laursen?!” He glanced around the rest of the squad and then spotted her as she dragged herself out of her bunk. “Sleeping! Isn’t that just dandy. We are down 4 crew and Laursen thinks she needs her beauty sleep! Well isn’t she special!”

Helena

Marceau stood in front of Helena’s bunk, facing up to Captain Driscoll. The entire time Driscoll had been harassing Laursen Marceau had been quietly trying to keep his cool. He’d gone to other senior staff at the Luna base, to little effect. Now he was done. “Cadet Laursen has done twenty hours straight because she covered someone else’s shift. It would be dangerous for her not to get sleep, both for her help and her work quality. Push her to work and if she gets hurt, it’s on you.”

~ Marceau

Driscoll moved his eyes off Laursen and onto Renault. He crossed his arms over his chest and rested his weight onto his back leg. “Oh no Cadet Cpt Renault. It’s on you. You are her Commanding officer.” His expression was extremely neutral, giving away nothing.

Kenneth moved over to stand next to Marceau.

Driscoll

Marceau crossed his arms and looked up at Driscoll, meeting his gaze. “Then why are you harassing her for sleeping? Actually, why have you been harassing her since the day we got here? Because she is talented? Is that not the kind of thing that should be encouraged? Not squashed by bitter old Captains?”

~ Marceau

Driscoll looked from Renault to Laursen to Matthews and back. “If she doesn’t derserve it, then why have you taken so long to do anything about it Cadet Captain Renault? Or you Cadet Matthews?” He said turning his gaze on Kenneth. He didn’t wait for a reply. “I want to see you three in my office, when this shift is over.” And he walked out.

Helen didn’t say a thing. She only reached into her bag and pulled out her shower things and a fresh uniform. The cold water should help wake her up. She wasn’t going to be the reason the squad got in trouble.

Helena

It had taken so long because Driscoll was a Captain. A real one, not a “cadet captain” like Marceau. Crossing him could cripple a career. He turned and pointed Helena back to bed. “You will stay in bed and get some sleep. Kenneth and I will deal with Driscoll.”

~ Marceau

Helena shook her head and sank back down onto her cot, “The whole squad doesn’t need to be in trouble for me. I’ve done something, I just don’t know what it is.” Akela caught Marceau’s eye and held up a hypo injector and mimicked sleeping. The whole squad knew Helena was working herself ragged and under real or self inflicted stress. Akela more than thought something to help Helena sleep was in order.

Marceau gave a subtle nod to Akela. He agreed entirely, it was needed. Helena was going to hurt herself or worse if she kept working like this.

Billy, Kenson, Gerard and Yvette all agreed to take it in turns to come back and check to make sure Helena got sleep and wasn’t made to get up. Whatever was going on they didn’t like. Gerard thought maybe Lucy had said something. Kenneth had the same thought but kept that to himself. He and Marceau would find out what was going on when they went to see Driscoll later. “Go to sleep, Helena. I’ll go with Marceau and we’ll take care of it.”

Helena

Akela walked over and sat down with Helena. They talked quietly for a moment. “Akela you get that thing away from me! I can sleep just fine.” Akela shook her head and said something and Helena glared at Marceau’s retreating back. Helena realised she wasn’t going to win this one as she stared at the entire crossed arms over chests squad waiting for her to comply. “Fine.” Akela gave her the dose and Helena flopped down onto her pillow like a sullen child. What did they care anyway?

When Marceau heard her yell at Akela he had a hard time not turning around and going back to her. But he couldn’t… he had to meet with Captain Driscoll He kept walking.

Marceau knew Lucy hadn’t said anything. There hadn’t been a chance to. Helena had been avoiding Lucy ever since the day he was released after the peanut allergy. Even after Kenneth’s punishment was lifted, Helena seemed to be avoiding Lucy. Marceau nodded to Kenneth, “Let’s go talk to Driscoll. When he asks why Laursen isn’t here, we put her to sleep.”

~ Marceau

Driscoll had retreated to his office waiting to see if Renault and Matthew’s would come immediately or put it off until after their shift. He was not kept waiting too long. He had left the door ajar and could see their shadows. “Well come in then.” He glared at them hard and waved them forward to in front of his desk. He crossed his arms on the edge of his desk and studied them a moment longer, “Now Gentlemen, tell me why you are here. And it’s not because I told you to.”

Driscoll

“No, sir, it isn’t,” said Marceau, his French accent stronger then than it would be in the future. “Helena is exhausted. As a Captain in Starfleet, I am sure you are aware of the risks of overworking your officers. I don’t know, nor do I care, if you have some childish problem with Cadet Laursen,” Marceau continued. Like those older boys she’d been hanging around with for a while, that had harassed her because she was a good pilot. “You must follow Starfleet regulations and allow her to work appropriate shifts. And lay off the harassment, because that’s what it is.”

~ Marceau

Driscoll’s brows went up, but other than that his expression didn’t change. “Matthews? You agree with Renault, do you?”

Kenneth’s chin went up slightly. “I do. Cadet Laursen has done exceptional work here, not complained once and gone above and beyond to correct whatever problem you seem to have.” Kenneth wondered if this would be the end of his career. “Your behavior is abominable. If we need to make a formal complain to JAG we will.”

Marceau nodded. If this was the end of his career, it would be worth it.

Driscoll leaned back and pointed at the chairs in front of his desk. “Sit. You are absolutely correct. My behavior has been childish and inappropriate.” He let that statement sit for a moment. “I have to say though that I’m disappointed it took you both so long to say something. Let me guess, you’re cadets and I’m a captain?” He leaned forward, forearms on his desk, “Look, you both have been tagged for further command training, in your second year no less. There are going to be people who seem to have more experience, or more authority than you, or simply are intimidating. That can’t stop you from doing what you know you need to. Authority is a mind set.”

Marceau sat in silence, staring dumbfounded at the Captain. Should he believe him? Was it true? This was all some kind of ‘are you really command material’ test? “We are… flagged for command training?” Yep. Now he sounded like an idiot. But he certainly didn’t feel like a leader.

Kenneth gave Marceau a look. Not sure he believed it. This was a test? That was… wrong. Driscoll gave them an understanding smile. Much more the man they had known before. “Yes, you are. You both have done remarkably outstanding. Your whole squad has. We don’t keep scores or pit squads against each other, but if we did, Black Jack’s would have won by multiple landslides last year. Each of you is making quite a name for yourselves. However, this was not a test about your leadership. This was about Laursen.”

“Now tell me, how is Laursen really doing under the pressure?”

Driscoll

Marceau was hesitant to say anything. At least he replied with, “She is handling it fine. She is stressed, but it hasn’t affected her work quality.”

~ Marceau

Kenneth nodded. “Helena is tough and knows who she is. After last year and the problems with the 3rd year cadets, to put it frankly, your attitude is nothing…Sir.” He added the last as an after thought. He glanced at Marceau again. Concern and defensiveness for Helena all over his face.

Kenneth and Driscoll

“What is going to happen to Helena, sir? Why is she… being tested like this?” Marceau asked with another look at Kenneth. “She is staying in our squad, isn’t she?”

~ Marceau

“As I said you all have really made a name for yourselves, and Laursen, well she’s exceptional as a pilot. Star Fleet was contacted by the United Earth Marine Corp about some cross training for their top aviators. Some of them want the opportunity to prove themselves in space. We only agreed if we could send a couple of our pilots to them. We are sending 3. The other two are full officers and serving on ships. They won’t be back for a few months. Helena is our best pilot, period. She’ll be going alone, to the Top Gun school. She is not a fighter pilot so she will be playing catch-up. Those aviators are natoriously cliquish. I wanted to make sure she could withstand the…difficulty.”

Driscoll


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