1/13/2028, SHUTTLE BAY, USE STOHL
NEAR EARTH ORBIT, ALTITUDE 162 MILES
Man, that was a quick 3 months, Star Ensign Hokama thought to herself as she prepared to board the shuttle returning to Earth. With the ship still at 80% fuel and having run into no issues, there seemed little point to bring the Stohl back down to drydock; damage to the armor was minimal and food and logistical reserves could be brought up simply by conventionally-powered freight shuttles, much like the one that was somewhat haphazerdly attached to the side of the Stohl's main deck.
She stepped in and prepared for null-gravity; on vessels with conventional drives there was no ecomony to place an expensive and delicate anti-grav unit throughout the vessel, so Hokama simply grinned and bore the ride down. There was a clank, a nervous whoop from some joker in the front of the shuttle, and then a tugging of inertia - yes, even in space, there was inertia. She could hear the metal around her pop and spit as they descended into the atmosphere; there were no windows in the shuttle but she could swear that she could see the bright edges of the atmosphere surround the small shuttle as they plowed into the air brake that was Earth's swaddle.
Thirty-six minutes later, the shuttle came to a rather abrupt stop at the Armstrong-Whitworth shuttledock. Unsteadily, she climbed out, duffel bag in hand, looking eagerly for her boyfriend, Star Lt. Jame Saville. Since there was no way to send mail to the ship, and energy on this maiden voyage was carefully reserved for communication with Star Command on Earth, there had been no communication between the two for months. Nonetheless, Hokama was certain that Saville would be waiting, brilliant smile and proud of her as always.
But she could not find him. Looking for almost half an hour, waiting well until the last crewmember had debarked the still-popping shuttle behind her, she felt her spirit droop. Try as she might, she could not stop a tear from escaping the side of her eye and plopping down her nose. Stop that, you idiot. If he's going to act this way you might as well get over it now.
Resolutely, she swung her duffel bag to her side, making a solid thump, and strode down the stairs leading from the dock slab. She had to go find some real friends to celebrate her return with.
STAR COMMAND, HOUSTON, TEXAS, USE
"So, First Minister, your trophy ship has come and gone, and come again. What now?" Star Corps Admiral James Broussard inquired of his commanding officer through the flickering vidscreen. "Shall we send some tourists up to secure some coin for the realm?"
The First Minster's grey eyes narrowed, but she said nothing. The admiral, disquieted by her silence, chose not to press the line of questioning, but dropped to the immediately practical. "We were lucky, First Minister, this time," he stated, "but to send a ship so ill-equipped to face anything it... well, with no sensors it may never have know what it would have faced, and neither would we! All we would ever know is that one day the Stohl failed to report, no reason why, all hands lost. Speaking frankly, First Minister, sending that ship was fallacy in the most regal form."
"The crew knew the risks when they boarded the vessel, Admiral," Stohl replied icily.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. To them it was a joyride. Celebrities they were, not soldiers, and certainly not professional crewmembers! To build that ship in only 4 months was madness!! I don't care if most of the superstructure was already complete. Those engines should have undergone more testing! They had never been fully fired before in the ship structure before her departure, did you know that?" the admiral raged.
"It would hardly seem proper to test a contained fission explosion near a population still reeling from a nuclear winter, wouldn't you agree?" Stohl's eyes glinted. "I note your concerns, Star Admiral. We are no longer at a point in humanity's development where we can afford to play it safe. Perhaps you would like to leave the safety of the Star Command center and speak to the starving rabble yourself? No? Well, then."
"Nonetheless," the admiral replied, "surely we have plans for greater ships than the Stohl."
Stohl's lips pursed against the disrespect of her name. She ignored it. She needed the fool for a little bit longer. "Of course, Star Admiral. Even now we are designing advanced sensors so that we may geologically map the solar system. We will be able to discover whether or not we can create small colonies elsewhere in the system. Mars, or Mercury perhaps? Yes, we are laying the superstructure for a second, larger survey ship, the Columbus class. The BSD is well into the planning stages. It will have twice the capacity, twice the speed, more armor, and a full sensor suite. It should be quite enough to ease your worried soul... Admiral."
The Star Admiral harumphed. "Well.... well. We'll see. Perhaps I'll take the command on that ship, eh, if it's so advanced?"
"So you would inpunge the work of your fine Captain Reams? Was her little 'star tour' not enough to impress you of her command ability?"
"That's... not... no. That was not my intent, First Minister," Broussard said. "She is an excellent Star Captain. I was just... thinking aloud."
"If I were you, Admiral... I'd start thinking much... quieter thoughts. Goodbye." Stohl disappeared on the vidscreen of the admiral, but her eyes seemed to linger just a fraction of a second longer.