Greetings loyal readers and welcome back. Ben has written another interesting chapter, once again something way different from anything Lady Lex had had before. We hope you enjoy the letters. They will tell you a lot about the characters on the Lady Lex. I know you think we post slowly enough as it is, but with school starting our postings will be even slower. Ben and I are both sorry, but don't worry, we will see Lady Lex to the end. We actually have it written through chapter 30, but those chapters aren't ready for posting yet. Plus, we've lost our proofreader, which may slow us down even more. Please be patient. We both hope to make it worth your while.
The Boys of the Lady Lex Chapter 23 "Dear Mom" Written By Douglas DD and Benjamin T. Collins
Captain Hatcher walked into his ready room holding a cup of steaming hot coffee. He sat in his chair behind his desk and sipped it. He held his Pittsburgh Penguins coffee mug with both hands to his chest and leaned back in his chair.
"Computer, Captain's Personal Log: Friday, April 8, 2226."
Captain Hatcher took a sip of his hot coffee and then thought for a second before continuing on.
"The decision I had to make this Sunday last was the toughest decision I ever had to make since the time I shot down Jay. But this decision was even tougher that then because my own flesh and blood was on that shuttle."
"Last night I sent the cadet watch on a fool's errand just so that I could get some alone time on the bridge to do some thinking. Linda had tracked me down up there and sat with me. We got talking about different things and of course our conversation ended up on the Wonder Boy and continued on to Jesse."
"She told me that I had to make a decision that no father or mother should ever have to make. She couldn't tell me if I made the right decision or not, I just thank God that my decision wasn't needed at the end."
"Then our conversation ended up Jesse. I know I am not much of a father to him. But we have nothing in common. We are so different from each other. Linda told me that if I look closely that Jesse is more like his father then Mark is. That's a laugh. HA! She continued to tell me that I should get to know Jesse better. But with my work schedule and Jesse being a cadet now, I hardly ever see him. Besides, what would we talk about? His interests and mine are so completely different."
"On Saturday, which is tomorrow, I am supposed to take a cadet shuttle to Earth so it can fly in a formation during Ambassador Talon's memorial service. All the junior academy ships were requested to send one shuttle each. I was going to take the Lady Hawke and assign her a special crew of the top cadets but after discussing this with Commander Creevey, Ensign Masters and our new female chief shuttlecraft mechanic, Lieutenant Danni Sartini, I decided to take the Wonder Boy and her crew. I am sure I will get some shit about it because it is the shuttle with my nephews, my dear friend's sons and Jesse on it, but they definitely proved themselves this past Sunday."
"Lieutenant Sartini assures me the "Wonder Boy" will be ready to go first thing tomorrow morning and that there will be no side effects or other catastrophes that might have been caused from that box that was planted on the Wonder Boy that caused it to be hurled towards the Lexington."
"I have an incoming call from SFA command. This is Captain Stephen R. Hatcher, Commanding Officer, SFA Lexington. End Log."
Andrew crawled onto his bed. It was now rec time in the evening. Nipper had watch and he figured this was a good time to write home to his parents. He missed them dearly. He broke out a special letter writing computer where all he had to do was hand write on the screen and it would turn his letter into a format that could be sent electronically to his parents.
Dear Mom,
How r u doing? I am doing ok. My best friend Nipper is on watch, so I decided to write you a letter. I miss you very much. I wish I was home right now. I know Trev and Ben miss you too.
How is dad, Tom, Ray, and Maria doing? Do they miss us? We might be able to see you next week. The shuttlecraft that Ben and I are on is going to be in the memorial formation for Ambassador Talon's memorial service. This should be kewl. I can't wait. It will be good to see earth again. I hope I can see you when I come home.
I got back my history test today that I took yesterday. I got a 100 on it. Trev failed it. This is his second test he failed for history. Dr. Kula, our history teacher wants Trev to come in for special tutoring and Trev isn't too happy about it.
Trev is acting weird lately. He is reading a lot of old books with pages to them. He don't usually do that. He spends a lot of time with his roommate Ian and 2 new friends of his. Their names are Chandler and Kyle. They call themselves the birds of prey. Trev calls himself the hawk, but he wants it spelled hawke. I don't know why. Maybe because of the Lady Hawke. Maybe because his favorite teacher spells his last name with a E at the end. His favorite teacher is our English teacher, Mr. Wolfe. He is pretty cool but hard. But I am getting A's in his class too. Matter of fact, I am getting A's in all of my classes. Trev is getting C's and F's. If he doesn't get his grades up, he won't be able to play baseball.
Uncle Steve told us today that when we get back from earth about a week later we will move the Lady Lex, that is what we call the Lexington it is a nick name for her. But he said we will move the Lady Lex to Phosphorous Prime. It is a planet that is trying to join SFA and they hope that this is a sign that their request will be granted.
Uncle Steve said that Phosphorous Prime is a lot like earth. It was uninhabited up to about 50 years ago when some settlers from Earth went there to start a new life. I guess they aren't advanced in their technologies like earth is because I guess they prefer to live a much more simpler life.
Uncle Steve said that the Governor of the planet is excited about our arrival. He said he rather have a ship full of delinquents on it then normal kids. Because he knows we are tiring to better our lives and turn it around. I guess the governor went to jail when he was younger for fraud but turned his life around. I don't know that is what Uncle Steve told us today.
When we get to Phosphorous Prime we will be practicing baseball and war games in a community called Ghent. I guess it was a small village that had been abandon for some reason. I am not sure why. I guess the village needs some major cleaning up and refurbishing and the ball field isn't in good shape and needs lots of work on it too, but Uncle Steve said we can fix this stuff up as a part of community service.
Ben is going out for the baseball team like me. My bo...best friend Nipper is going out too but we don't think we will make either team because we are too young. But we still can try out. Trev wants to try out for the team too but Uncle Steve told Trev that he would like to see him try out for the hockey teams he is going to coach. Trev never played hockey but he is really good in baseball so I bet he plays ball. I hope he does.
I don't like my math teacher Sister Agatha. She is really mean. I am getting an A in her class but she is mean. Trev is constantly getting in trouble in her class. He likes to mouth off at her and make her mad. He loves pushing her buttons. Trev got his knuckles slapped with a ruler a lot of times. He even got his butt spanked with a ruler once. He won't give her the gratification for it. He hides his emotions on it in front of her. But don't worry mom, Trev is okay.
Ben is doing really good as a shuttlecraft pilot. He is having fun with it. He says it's almost as fun as baseball. Ben said that maybe he will be a shuttlecraft pilot when he grows up. I still want to be a vet when I grow up. Trev still wants to be a professional baseball player when he grows up. My boyfriend nipper wants to be a concert musician. He is really good on the violin. Nipper, me and Chaplain Kyle wrote our school's alma alder. It is really cool. I will attach a recording of it to this letter. Tell me what you think about it.
Chaplain Kyle is my favorite teacher. He organized an orchestra band. I play my trumpet and nipper plays his violin. There is this boy named Tyler who plays the cello. This boy Greg plays the saxophone. TJ who everyone calls Hamster plays the guitar. Trev is playing the drums in it. His roommate Ian plays the piano. Ian is really good. Trev has no rhythm on the drums but he is getting better. We even have a flute, clarinet, French horn, tuba, viola, coronet, and a bass players in the orchestra. I am the only trumpet player but we have 2 coronet players. Nipper is the number one chair for violin. There are 3 other violinist and 2 viola players. Our orchestra is pretty big but most of the boys in it never played before and they are learning. I wish Ben could be in the orchestra but he puts all his spare time into the Wonder Boy and Douglas.
My recreation time is almost up. So I better go. I love you Mom. Tell Dad I love him too. I hope to see you when I come home next week for the funeral. I miss you so much.
Love, Andrew
Johnny Cooper went into the small office that him and Mike shared to perform their CO/XO duties. He sat in his chair and pulled out a cigarette. He lit it up and took a deep drag. He wasn't allowed to smoke because he was a cadet, but he managed to swipe a pack of cigarettes from an officer who wasn't keeping a watchful eye on it. He knew if he would be caught he would get in deep trouble, but basically he didn't give a shit.
"Computer, Cadet CO log: Today has been an interesting day. I had a meeting with Captain Hatcher that idiot of a person. I have him fooled and wrapped around my finger big time. I told him that I didn't think it was wise as a cadet commanding officer to be a shuttle commander too. I mean I have to give orders to the different shuttlecraft groups and it would be harder to control them on a shuttle and not on the bridge. So I told him that I wanted to turn TJ into the shuttle commander for the Buford. I also told him that since today we received a new addition to our shuttle fleet today that I wanted to turn it into a special shuttle. Since the wing groups consist of four shuttles each, 17 shuttles wouldn't work right. So this 17th shuttle will be a special ops shuttle. After all it was a stealth shuttle for black ops before they retired her model and decommissioned them all. So I listened to Trevor who is quite a leader and I changed his mind on certain things and this is the bullshit that I convinced Hatcher on."
"The 17th shuttle is known as the Raptor. Trevor named it after some dinosaur in a book called Jurassic Park. I guess Raptor means bird of prey or some shit like that. Since Trevor and his friends are just twrips, I appointed Spencer Harris as shuttle commander. He is a new member to the mustang gang. He is a senior like me. He has quite a list on his police record too. He was convicted of rape, kidnapping, blackmail, and terrorist threats. This junior, Kyle Osborne, convicted of grand theft auto, selling black market items, and scamming and fraud will be the pilot. Trev will be removed from the Buford and he will be the science guy on the Raptor. At his request, Ian is to be placed on the Raptor too. I don't care for Ian. He is too much of a wimp, but I gave in to Trevor on this. Ian will be the engineer guy. This computer hacker that Trevor met named Chandler will be the navigator. The weapons guy will be very interesting. He is a sophomore and his bright fiery red hair matches his temper and his odd, psychotic behavior. I do believe he is completely insane. He gets really excited and all weird like when he is around or talks about fire. Of course he is convicted of arson. His name is Dylan McIntire and he is one of the boys from Australia. He has a thick Australian accent that makes his antics all the more intriguing. I will let Spencer and Trev think they are in control of this newly form black ops group, but in all reality I am in complete control."
"Trevor told me they all have call signs now. Trevor is known as the hawk. Ian is known as the Eagle. Chandler is the Falcon. Dylan is the Phoenix. Spencer is Condor and Kyle is Osprey."
"I will put the birds of prey in two three man living quarters. Trevor, Ian and Chandler are in one room and Spencer, Kyle and Dylan are in the other room. The birds of prey will be notified first thing tomorrow of the change in quarters and shuttles. I know Trevor knows that I went to see the old man tonight during rec time to discuss this. I am surprised he isn't here asking me what happened with it."
"I still need to come up with three new boys for the Buford. With me, Trevor and Ian being pulled from it, it leaves three vacant spaces. TJ will be the shuttle commander, Jeff will be the pilot and that fag Scooter will be navigator now. So I have to find special people to take on the roles of science, weapons and engineering. I need to choose carefully for this. It has to be someone loyal to me."
"There will be some room changes too. Besides the crew of the Raptor which I just spoke of, the Buford Boys will be the only other ones to have a room change. I am not sure what they will be yet, it will all depend on who I pick to be the other crew members on it. Of course I need to convince Kalon and Commander Creevey on who I feel should be picked. Because they have the final say in the shuttle craft crew selections, unless I go over their head again like I did today when I went to see Hatcher. I am also working on getting my own sleeping quarters. I am not sure if it will happen, but I am trying."
"At first I didn't like nor did I want the responsibility of being the cadet Co but now I am finding out it has its benefits and I will use them to my advantage. I will use them to prove to everyone that Johnny Cooper is someone and not a loser and that no one fucks with Johnny Cooper."
There was a knock on the door. Johnny quickly put out his cigarette and hid the butt. He fanned away the smoke.
"Enter"
Trevor came walking in. He could smell the smoke in the air.
"Is that cigarette smoke?"
"Yes it is my fellow mustang member. Here have one" Johnny reached into his secret stash and gave Trevor a cigarette. He took and smelled it.
"Let's light up and I will tell you how my meeting went."
Douglas crawled into his rack. This was the first night since he first had sex with Ben that he was sleeping alone. Douglas looked over at Ben's rack and saw him laying there on his side facing the bulkhead. Douglas was going to sleep with Ben tonight but Ben had told him that he wanted to sleep alone tonight. Douglas was worried and noticed that Ben was acting strange ever since the navigation class. Douglas turned his attention to his paper journal and began writing in it.
Dear Journal, Today is April seventh, two-thousand two hundred and twenty six. It is a Thursday. Today during navigation class, Johnny the asshole was acting like a bastard toward Scooter. So I took Scooter aside and talked to him. I think I made him feel better. I hope so. He told me that he is in love with a friend of his named Jeff. I know Jeff and he is a good guy.
Ever since that class though Ben has been acting strange. I don't know why. I asked him what was wrong and he wouldn't tell me. He even told me he wanted to sleep alone tonight. I love Ben very much. But he is so hard to figure out at times. It is like he is very insecure when it comes to relationships. Maybe being a middle child in a large family has something to do with it, but I am not sure. I am no psychologist to figure out that psychology bullshit. All I know is that I love Ben so very much. He makes my life so complete.
I originally stayed on this ship so I could prove to David that I am better then him. But I became a cadet so I could be with Ben. I think and feel that becoming a cadet was a greater sacrifice then staying on board the Lady Lex. I also know that the reason for becoming a cadet is more true and noble then my selfish reasons for wanting to stay on the Lady Lex in the beginning. David or no David, there is nothing that would convince me to leave the Lady Lex as long as Ben is here with me.
Captain Hatcher informed me and my Wonder Boy crew that we will be participating in Ambassador Talon's funeral services. I think that is so cool. He told us today that three shuttles are going to Earth for the services. The Wonder Boy will be in the memorial fly by formation consisted of other junior academy shuttlecrafts. I wonder if David and Mark will be there?
The second Shuttle, the Lady Hawke will consist of 6 boys who will be in a ground formation to help render honors to the late ambassador. TJ, Scooter, Johnny Cooper, Mike, Travis, Tyler, Greg, and Eric will on that honors detail. I am willing to bet that Johnny will fuck things up and make a big scene of some sort. I can't believe Captain Hatcher is letting him go.
Captain Hatcher didn't tell us who the third shuttle was going to be. But this shuttle will be participating in the recession as a special shuttle carrying the Ambassadors body as it goes towards the Sun. There will be a lot of shuttles in this recession. Each ship in the SFA fleet will have one shuttlecraft in the recession. The shuttles will escort the coffin shuttle as far as safety will permit them and then the coffin shuttle will continue on into the Sun and disintigrate.
I am looking at my Ben and he is asleep. I hear him snoring a sweet snore. I love him so much. I wish I knew what was bothering him. Why can he be so thick headed at times. God I love him. Someone is at the door. I wonder who it is. Its past taps.
I am back Journal. It was Trevor. I told him he better get back to his room before one of the Marines caught him. He said the Hawke can stealth his way past them. That boy concerns me. He is nothing like Ben or Andrew. He is definitely his own person. Trevor told me that he talked to Johnny Cooper and the Captain told him that he is being assigned to a new shuttlecraft called the Raptor and that the Raptor will be the third shuttle to go to Earth for the funeral. Trev rattled off who the crew is on the shuttle but I can't remember who. I think he said Ian and some kid named Dylan. I bet Ben and Andrew will be happy that Trevor gets to go to Earth with them. I must say though, I think Trev is getting involved with the wrong people on board here. Trev spends a lot of time with Johnny Cooper it seems like and I could have sworn I smelled cigarette smoke on Trevor's breath tonight.
When we go to Earth, Nipper and I are going to try and go to mom's grave. Nipper wants to play her his violin for her. I sure do miss my mom. My heart cries for her every night. Life just isn't the same without her. I get mad and confused at times on why she died. She was a good lady and I can't figure out why she had to die. I know Nipper misses her very much too. So does Dad, but Dad won't show it. But I can tell.
I am yawning up a storm here and I have first watch in the morning. So I better call it a night. Good night Journal the keeper of my most inner thoughts.
DDD
Mark Hatcher went to his quarters to write his parents a letter. He sat on his bed and pulled out a letter writing palm computer. He begin writing his thoughts.
Dear Mom and Dad,
School is really sucking right now. Everyone is alienating me because I got caught on the Lexington even though I did get caught because I rendered aid to him. At least my shuttle team are still my friends. David is on thin ice too because he left me, his partner, behind and didn't attempt to save me or find out what happened to me.
The shuttle I am on, The Ramses, has been chosen to fly in the funeral procession as the shuttles escort the coffin shuttle to the Sun. The funeral is for that ambassador guy that offered dad a job on Kriton before dad quit SFA and took on the Lexington.
There is this girl cadet on the Orion. Her name is Theresa. She is really beautiful. She has golden blond hair and blue eyes. Her skin is pale and smooth. She is going to be my date to the Spring Fling Dance. She is a freshman like me but been attending the academy since the 8th grade. I think you will like her mom.
I heard that three weeks after you arrive Phosphorus Prime you will be playing us in hockey, baseball and fencing. I guess you guys need to play each junior academy in each sport that will be played in the Olympics before the Olympics get here. I can't wait to play against you dad. I know you are coaching the team Have you chose the team yet?
I have to go. Theresa just got here and she wants me to help her with biology homework. Thanks mom for the care package you sent with me when I came back from the Lexington. I hope to see you soon.
Mark
Harrison Wolfe went to one of the many bookshelves in his living room. He removed a few books that were hiding a secret door. He opened the door and pulled out a small communication classified transmitter. He only used this when he use to accept tasking from his former employee. It's been a while since he used it. He punched a few buttons to ensure that his message would be encrypted. Then he spoke.
"The worm in the green apple climbed Mt. Fugi. The umbrella is up and the milk is sour."
Harrison Wolfe turned off his transmitter and put it back in its secret compartment. He then went to get some special tools that he had hidden. He needed to get ready for his trip back to Earth. He managed to convince Captain Hatcher to let him be one of the five crew members to go to Earth for the funeral. Since he was head teacher, he felt it was best for him to go, but he just used that as an excuse to get him on the Lady Hawke.
Harrison opened up another secret compartment and pulled out an illegal sniper laser rifle.
To Be Continued...