Angels of Andromeda

Chapter One: Unauthorized Departure

Tawny stood impatiently at the front gates of Titan Base. From head to foot she was covered in a thick fur lined jacket to defend against the planet's bitter cold. On her hands she wore thermal gloves with leather grips for easy use of two blasters dangling from her belt. Despite the frigid climate, she could feel her temperature rise as she fought to steady the anger and fear intensifying to her core. After a long morning of pacing back and forth on the hanger floor, the sirens finally rang out to announce the return of the squadron. The ground crew cheered as one by one each craft landed without any signs of damage or fatalities. The team was led by Captain Kelly Ortega; a galactic ace who held the highest kill record in the Kevlar galaxy. As he climbed down from his cockpit, Tawny hastily approached. "I didn't authorize your departure this morning, where the hell have you been?"      

"C'mon Tawny, you know the engines break down if the squadron sits here all week. We did a routine patrol of the blockade. Nothing exciting happened." He leaned in and kissed her frost bitten lips. Tawny immediately cooled upon his touch, but protested his affection. After three years of marriage she could always tell when he was lying and if there was any truth in his words, radar scans would confirm it.   "Engaging twelve Draxis fighters isn't exciting?" Kelly winced aware of his failed deception.  "Do you care about us? Do you care about our family?" she said, gently clutching her waist to ease a shot of pain.  "Of course I do Tawny, but if the Draxis get the jump on us, we don't have the defenses here to get out alive" he explained. Calm down, it's not good for the baby."   Kelly gently placed his strong hands on her belly to feel a kick.    "He's just like his father, ready to go with no notice. Never mind changing the subject, it's not up to you to decide when to take my squadron out, just because I'm grounded by medical, doesn't mean you run things without my permission. You can't leave us crippled. If we were ambushed while you were away at the fleet, then where would be? " Kelly held his wife tightly in his arms and began to walk along the corridor to the apartments. "You know as well as I do the Draxis have no idea we're hiding out here. We've got all ten bases secured and all the ships are primed and ready for evac the moment we give the order." Tawny's eyebrow lifted in disapproval. "Uh, you give the order." Kelly corrected. Tawny couldn't help but smirk.  "I want to stay angry at you, but I have other duties to see to now. No matter how busy I am you must ask my permission, not go sneaking off behind my back, got it? " "You're so beautiful when you're angry" Kelly replied. "Really, your eyes are like star fire." Tawny starred him down, raising a scolding finger to his face. "I mean it. If you so much as check your ship's oil, you'll clear it with me first." The sly captain knelt down in front of the couple's quarters and bowed his head. "Yes dear". Tawny rolled her eyes in disbelief of his sincerity. "Alright, have it your way, but I won't let our child grow up without a father. I'll put you in the brig if that's what it takes. You're pushing it Kelly. All these reckless decisions you keep making by yourself. One day your luck will run out...Dismissed." Kelly rose to his feet to defy his wife's orders once again. "You know you can't ask that of me Tawny, no matter how many pretty pins they put on that uniform of yours. I've lost too many friends in this war. You have too. I won't hide in the base like a coward!" Tawny stared back coldly.   "Cowards live. At least longer than you will."