Chapter Text
Varandal Star System – Alliance Fleet home port
A century of brutal war had finally come to an end. The Alliance prevailed, and its fleet had come home. Now Varandal’s civilian passenger terminals teemed with sailors and marines ready to board the ships that would carry them back to distant homeworlds many hadn’t seen in years.
The mood was strange- exuberant, joyful, yet oddly subdued. It didn’t feel real. The war against the Syndicate Worlds had dominated life in the Alliance for generations. The idea that it was truly over was difficult to grasp.
At Dock 124-B, the passenger liner Pride of Eire was in the final stages of boarding, soon to depart for the Kosatka star system. Like all liners in Alliance space, she was old, worn, and long past her intended service life. For generations, resources that might have built her successor instead funded the construction of warships. Maybe that would change in this new era of peace. But for now, the venerable Pride would carry on a little longer, her harried crew doing their best to get everyone aboard for an on-time departure.
“Next in line, please,” a gate agent barked, her voice tired from already having said it hundreds of times that day.
A man and woman stepped forward hand in hand, both wearing Alliance Fleet captain uniforms.
“Boarding documents please.”
The woman handed over her comm pad. The agent scanned it quickly.
“Tanya Desjani. Everything is in order. You’re cleared to board.”
Then she saw the man’s name. She looked up at him and froze, eyes wide and jaw dropped in disbelief.
“Black Jack?” she whispered, almost reverently. “… Um, I mean... John Geary... Admiral... It’s an honor, sir… Um, welcome aboard the Pride of Eire.”
Geary suppressed a sigh. The hero worship had already become tiresome. And it was more than a little annoying that Tanya had become invisible the moment his name was spoken. After all, moments earlier during their whirlwind courtship on the dock, he had promised everyone would come to know the strong and remarkable individual she was.
“It’s Captain Geary, actually,” he corrected. “But thank you. Captain Desjani and I are looking forward to the trip.”
The agent flinched at the correction and gave Desjani an awkward nod.
“...Um… yes. Welcome aboard as well, ma’am.”
Regaining her composure, the agent glanced down at her console. “You’re on Deck 6, starboard side. One moment- you’ll be shown to your stateroom shortly.”
She spoke quickly and forcefully into a commlink, and moments later the ship’s captain appeared before them.
“Black Jack Geary!” he exclaimed, dropping all pretense of professionalism and not even trying to hide his awe. He extended his hand. “I’m Captain Mark Ryu, commanding officer of the Pride of Eire. I…”
He paused, overcome with emotion. “I’m sorry. It's just that, my daughter is a chief petty officer on the Illustrious. You brought her and the fleet home safe. And I wish I had the words to thank you. Hell, I never dreamed I’d get the chance to thank you in person!”
Geary awkwardly accepted the handshake. “It was only my duty, Captain. Illustrious fought well, and it was my honor to command such fine ships and sailors.”
He quickly changed the subject. “I was on Kosatka once, a long time ago. Shore leave. I’m looking forward to seeing it again.”
Then he gestured to Desjani. “This is Captain Tanya Desjani, commanding officer of the battlecruiser Dauntless.”
Captain Ryu just stared, again at a loss for words. “The captain of the Alliance flagship! Pleasure to meet you, ma’am. Welcome! I can’t tell you what an honor it is to have you both aboard my ship. We don’t transport legends every day!”
“Thank you, Captain,” Desjani replied. “I’m from Kosatka. I haven't been back in a long time.”
“Then it will be the honor of the Pride of Eire to take you home.” Captain Ryu gestured toward the terminal’s private access corridor. “Please, follow me. I’ll take you to your stateroom. Not luxury by any means, but as comfortable as the Pride allows.”
As they walked, the sounds of the terminal faded behind the heavy bulkhead door- muffled announcements, crying children, barked orders from the crew.
“I hope you won’t mind the ship’s condition,” Captain Ryu said over his shoulder. “She’s solid where it counts, but... well, she’s a bit of a relic. And her weapons systems are a bit less capable than your battlecruiser,” he said jokingly. “But our food is better.”
“As long as it isn’t expired Syndic rations, I’m good,” Desjani said, making a face. “We lived on those for months. They actually made fleet food taste good by comparison.”
“I’m retired fleet myself,” Ryu replied with a grin. “Unless things have drastically improved since my time, I can promise you- our food’s far better than the fleet’s. I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
They reached the stateroom. Ryu entered a code to open the door, then stood back. “Your luggage will be delivered shortly.”
“Actually, this is all we have,” Desjani replied, gesturing to their fleet-issue duffels. Geary silently thanked Captain Tulev. If not for him, Geary would have had nothing but the uniform he was wearing.
“Traveling light then? Very well. One last thing- would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner once we’re underway?”
“Of course,” Geary replied. “And there is one favor we would like to ask of you.”
“Of course, anything! Or rather, anything legal. What can I do?”
“Captain Desjani and I just became engaged. We’d like to respectfully ask you, as ship’s captain, to officiate our wedding.”
Captain Ryu blinked, stunned yet again, then smiled broadly. “Congratulations! Yes, of course! It would be my pleasure. Let’s discuss the details over dinner. For now, I’ll leave you to settle in, and I need to see to the ship. Departure’s in just under an hour. If you’re hungry, the mess hall will open as soon as we’re underway.” He hesitated. “And… thank you again. For everything.”
Geary gave a small nod. “Of course. And thank you, Captain.”
Ryu disappeared down the corridor, leaving them alone.
Geary looked around the small stateroom. “She’s not Dauntless.”
“No, she’s not my ship. But she’ll do,” Tanya replied, setting her duffel on the luggage rack.
She looked at him, a flicker of emotion in her eyes that Geary couldn’t read.
“There’s something else I’ve wanted to do for a long time. But I can’t let my dress uniform get wrinkled if I’m getting married in it soon,” she said with a smile as she pulled off her jacket.
“Come here, Black Jack!”
10 days travel by hypernet to Kosatka. They didn’t even notice the Pride leaving the dock.