Star Bound Liberty (Complete)

Chapter Twenty Six

The next morning I learned that Gabby had been arrested in possession of alcohol. She had broken one of the 50 punishable regulations that all trainees are taught in basic training. A still was found in her department and bottles of some sort of root vegetable gin was discovered in her locker. She had been arrested and transfered to the military police on New Nippon Station and remanded in custody until her court hearing. The station we'd just left. The station where a little girl's mother had just been attacked and hurt.

I replied to Smith's message, giving him my thanks for letting me know and asked him not to wait up for me at breakfast. I didn't really feel like being around people today.

Breakfast arrived for me after I got out of the shower. It was Cookie with vegan bacon and eggs on a grav tray, all laid out with silver cutlery and a fresh cup of mess hall coffee.

'Oh, Cookie. You discovered my secret, I see.' I pulled my robe around me tighly.

'No secret. Enjoy.' He turned to leave my lounge.

'Wait, hold up.' I moved to stand in front of him. 'I had some really bad news last night and again this morning.' I waved at the breakfast floating by the settee. 'This small act of kindness has offset some of that pain. Thank you.' I leaned up and kissed his cheek.

'You're welcome Ambassador.' I groaned.

'Please, don't call me that.'

'Yes, ma'am.' He grinned and I groaned again.

'Not you too.'

Breakfast was really yummy and the Earth coffee just as full flavoured and smooth as ever. I got dressed for the day and headed off to find Commander Davis so he could escort me into the Captains' office for my exams.

Two hours later, Captain Teague was signing off on everything and congratulating me for another qualification well done.

'How have things been going for you, so far, Ambassador.' I nearly asked him not to call me that.

'Everything's been going really well. I've learned so many things while I've been aboard the Bransky, sir. Thank you.'

'How has your Ambassador duties been coming along?'

Not that it was any of his business... I wanted to huff at him. Then I decided to be really honest with him.

'I had a wonderful day in the New Nippon Gardens yesterday, sir. It was really refreshing for Ayms and I. We met an amazing little alien girl called Katia and her mother. They were of the Stratical Bornio race from the other side of Lambe space. They were on an ambassadorial tour to see if they wanted to join the alliance and someone attacked them and hurt Katia's mother last night. Right after we'd spent hours with them in the park.'

'I heard about that. Nasty stuff. I'm sorry to hear how its affect you and Ayms, Ambassador.' The Captain held his hands across his desk, almost in supplication. I could see he was sorry that their pain had become my own.

'Thank you, Captain.' I decided I'd better leave before it got awkward.

'Can I get you a drink?'

'No, sir. I better get to my shift.' I got up, saluted and quietly left.

In medical I changed all the sheets in all of the wards, helped patients into and out of the head and ensure all of the medications were up to date. Real medical technician's work for a change. Dalia was as perplexed as a monkey in a hair salon. She looked it too. I ignored her.

Just before lunch a comm for a bio cleanup was requested in engineering, and since I didn't feel like eating, I volunteered.

'You OK, Libby?' Petty Officer Vatta asked, as I was usually completely out of her hair when she was the senior officer on triage duty. I just nodded, collected the cleaning gear from the storage room and went to clean up vomit off the engineering deck.