fanfic_name = And Thunder Rolls

chapter = 9

author = Adam Scott

Rating = AP15

Type = Alternative Universe

fanfic = Chapter 9 - Dinner at Eight



        "Ten", 1st Lieutenant Tami Porter starts the countdown, "Nine", Breetai orders Mercury and Venus divisions to fold, "Eight", the fold engines of the SDF-3 begin build power, "Seven", Mars division folds followed closely by Jupiter, "Six", final checks are complete, we are at the point of no return "Five", Saturn division folds along with the newly formed Neptune division, "Four", the sound of the SDF-3's fold engines changes from a low and distant hum to an out right roar, "Three", the entire ship begins to vibrate and shake, "Two", a brilliant light begins to envelope the ship as I watch through the windows of the bridge, "One", I feel myself, the ship and everything around me distort and stretch, "executing fold!", at those words, everything comes to a stop. We are held outside of time and space. All electronics go blank; the brilliant light of the threshold of folded space is all that one can see. Then, just as suddenly, we are back to normal. Well, sort of, we are still in folded space, but we have crossed the threshold and are safely on our way to the second way-point.



        I peel my hands from the grip they held upon the armrests of the Captains chair. I have never been a fan of going into hyperspace. I stand up to stretch my legs and walk around to the various stations on the bridge. I knew about each of them, what each station did and why, but I had always spent my time with a Veritech. Flying was my first love. I work my way around the room. Talking to each technician and officer for a few moments, asking them questions about the function of there consol and why was it important. I think the bridge crew thought I was testing them since we had just gone through a week of intensive cross training. But I really wasn't, I just wanted to know. On purpose, I went to Tami's station last; I wanted to spend more time with her, to get to know her, especially since she was my first officer.



        Tami Porter could have been a clone of Sammie Porter. The only difference between the two was that Tami was just a little taller and her hair wasn't quite as red and she was four years younger than Sammie. Their fathers were brothers and they grew up just a few blocks from each other. Tami joined the RDF after the SDF-1 had disappeared over Macross Island. She wanted to find her cousin. Tami was fortunate during Dolzas rain of death; she had just been assigned to the Banshee a prototype space cruiser being developed to replace the Oberth Class destroyers. They were away from earth, testing the fold system when the attack occurred. When they returned they found the Earth devastated and the only survivors to be around the remains of the SDF-1.



        Tami was elated and devastated at the same time. She had found her beloved cousin but had lost everyone else important in her life. She settled down in Monument city and took to her duties full time. It was the only way she could cope with the loss. For two years Sammie tried to pull her out of her shell but to no avail. Then Khyron attacked and she lost Sammie as well. It was nearly too much. Tami was at the brink of suicide. Everyone she had ever loved had died and she wondered how long she could live with the pain.



        One day she decided that she had enough and found herself high atop the main headquarters of the Southern Cross, a thirty story high rise in downtown Monument. The wind whipping through her long light red hair she approached the precipice. She stared for what seemed like hours at the traffic below, lost in her sorrow. Then a gentle voice addressed her from behind. Calling her by name, "Tami" . . . "Tami", she turned around but saw no one. She brushed it off as the wind and turned back towards the edge but then it happened again. "Tami", called the voice, "come back Tami, we need you". Tami, shaken a little by what she heard, turned back towards the sound. This time she saw Sammie standing there. Tami lost her balance and almost went over the edge. But a gust of wind blew up the side of the building and kept her from falling over. Instead she fell onto the roof, landing on her face, the hot tar and gravel biting into her cheek.



        When she pulled her wits about her and looked around, Sammie was gone; she had been replaced by the blond hair, blue eyed face of a young woman. It was 2nd Lieutenant Amber Conners. Tami knew her from the academy. They had been roommates and good friends but had lost contact after school. Tami thought she had been killed in the rain of death, Amber had thought the same of Tami. Amber came to Tami's side and helped her friend sit up and then the two friends embraced for what seemed an eon. Amber only happened to be on the roof to adjust a radio antenna. No one else had seen Tami up there. She had walked on to the roof just as Tami had fallen and had no idea what had just taken place. Amber started to let go when Tami asked her not to. Tears began to stream down Tami's face so they sat together on the roof and just held each other. Tami, needing comfort and love, Amber, relieved to find her friend alive.



        Tami and Amber spent every minute of their free time together after that and had even moved in together. Soon they discovered that their feelings for each other were more than friendship. Both of them had felt the same back in school but were too timid and sacred to admit it to each other. Even though homosexuality was more widely accepted now, it was still a taboo in the military, especially at the time. But since reconstruction and the intergrading of the Zentraedi into society, who were known for their platonic same sex relationships, the military had relaxed their stance on the subject and had even allowed some couples to marry.



      Amber and Tami are one such couple. They were married a few weeks prior to the launch and were still honeymooning. Tami was talking to Amber on the Tac-net when I approached her station. "Love you too" said Tami as she ended the conversation. "Oh . . . Admiral Hunter!?" she says in surprise as her cheeks blush. She hadn't noticed me standing next to her. "How can I help you sir?" she asks. At that moment an idea came to light, so I ask "Would you and Amber care to join myself and Lisa for dinner tonight? That is, of course, if you two don't already have plans" She stands in shock for a few moments and then replies "Sure, we'd love too!"



        Lisa was not happy with me when she found out. She was not prepared for company and we narrowly avoided one of our famous fights. I had to eat a little crow but I got her to agree. I had the galley prepare a surf and turf dinner, complete with baked sweet potatoes. I felt the observation deck, located two flights up from the bridge, would be a perfect location. I arranged to have the meal ready for one hour after we defold. That would allow time for everyone to change into civilian attire.



        Eleven hours after the start of the fold operation we reach the way-point. We were now father from earth than any human being had ever traveled. Even Farther than Lisa, Ben, Max or I had when we were first taken to Dolza's ship. We were on the edge of a new solar system with a binary star. There were only a few planets, mostly gas giants, this system was un-inhabited according to the Zentraedi star charts, and this is why it was chosen as the second way-point. We didn't want the Robotech Masters to know we were coming.



        We come out of hyperspace and perform the routine checks. The repairs from the previous jump had held and there was only minor damage to a few of the ships. We had scheduled to wait three days between each jump but with the delay after the first one we had decided that we would wait only one day this time around and then two on the next to make up for the loss of time. The time in between jumps was crucial. The fold engines can only be run for a maximum of fourteen hours before they begin an automatic shutdown. Then they need ten hours of maintenance after each fold. In a way, I hope we can find a better solution to the problem once we reach Triol. The fabled home of the Robotech Masters.



      Alpha shift takes the bridge after the fold and we start the duty rotations. I hurry down to our quarters to change. Lisa is already dressed to kill. In a low cut, form fitting dress. Even at four months pregnant she still had a knock out body. Jo had taken Roy with her over to Alex's quarters and was planning to spend the night. Max and Miriya were joining us this evening and were waiting for us on the observation deck. I quickly shower and change. I decide to wear a casual uniform. Lisa would agree that since I am now in charge of the entire fleet that I should only be seen in some sort of uniform. I walk out into the living room and Lisa gives a look of "you're not going to wear that!" I grin and shrug my shoulders. Lisa lets out a sigh, marches towards, grabs me by the hand and drags me back into the bedroom. I sit down on the bed while she rummages through our closet. She then pulls out my formal uniform, throws it in my lap and as she walks out the door barks an order "And Don't Forget to put on ALL your ribbons and medals." I comply with her order, I know better than to argue with her when she is already in a foul mood.



        To be honest, I really don't like to wear all of my decorations. In the seven years that I have been in the RDF, not only have I advanced to one of the highest ranks that one can achieve, I have also received almost every form of commendation and medal they have. I have Two Purple Hearts, Two Bronze Stars, a Silver Star, Four RDF Commendation Medals, Seven RDF Achievement Medals, Three Titanium Medals of Valor, Seven Battle E's, a Life Saving Medal, and several others that I'm not sure as to why or how I got them, but I have them. Six rows of ribbons that I have to mount onto my jacket. In frustration I bring the whole mess out to Lisa and let her figure it out. While she straightens the mess I made I finish dressing, putting on my tie and straightening my cuff links. Lisa finishes and hands me my jacket. She shakes her head and laughs to herself; she is probably wondering how she wound up with someone so unused to the military, even if I was an Admiral. I take her by the arm and make our way to the observation deck.



        The door of the lift opens to a magical view. The fleet is in a fairly close orbit to the forth planet in the system, a bluish green gas giant. As we enter the colossal hall, the ship crosses the terminator and the light of the binary stars streams in through the large bay windows. The table was centered on the largest window and sitting at the table were Exedore, Breetai, Kazianna Hesh (Breetai's fiancé), Max and Miriya Sterling, Tami and Amber Porter, and Jean and Vince Grant. Tami, being the first officer, had closed off the observation deck to everyone else so that we could eat in peace. As we walked across the hall I motion to the watch officer. He comes along side and I tell him to give us an hour and then he can open the doors for everyone.  Every one stands as we approach and Lisa and I give our formal welcomes and greetings than I pull out Lisa's chair. Once she is seated I tell every one to "please sit down. I'm not much on formalities, were all friends here." I get nods of agreement and everyone sits down. I have more to say so I remain standing. "Tonight, my friends, is an evening to enjoy. From here on out, we may not get another chance like this."



      It was a wonderful evening of food and friends. Over the years I had come to not only respect Breetai but I actually enjoyed his company. Even though his knowledge of human customs was limited and he was only now beginning to understand his own emotions, he was a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. He was humble in his wisdom and didn't shove it down your throat like some people I knew. Tami and Amber were a little uncomfortable with the whole situation. It had only been a week since Tami had been named First Officer and she was still trying to adjust to the added responsibilities. In addition to the fact that Exedore and Breetai were fascinated by their non-platonic same sex bonding. After about a half an hour of relentless questioning from them I took Amber and Tami to the side and engaged them in a conversation with Lisa and I. It was the least I could do to save them from the Spanish Inquisition they were receiving from the two senior Zentraedi.



      Jean, Vince and Max and Miriya were holding their own conversation with Kazianna, which Breetai and Exedore readily joined in. They were talking about how Breetai had met her and how Exedore had set them up on their first "date" and how emotionally freeing the experience had been for them. Now after only four dates they were engaged and were going to participate in the "Micronian Paring Ceremony" as soon as we arrived at Triol. They figured that it would work as an even better distraction tactic than if we were to use two humans. You have got to hand it to the Zent's, they are always thinking of tactics.



        The evening progressed nicely and after the aforementioned hour the watch officer opened the Observation Deck to all hands. There was a small trickle of people at first but soon, after word of the view spread through out the ship, there were several hundred. Our section of the hall had been cordoned off so we could continue our evening in relative peace. We each started to head home after some time. Max and Miriya along with Jean and Vince were first. Dana and Bowie were known to be a handful and their sitter would need rescuing very soon. Tami and Amber were next. They each had and early shift tomorrow and wanted some alone time. Then Exedore was called to the Robotech Research Labs by Dr. Lang.  Only Breetai, Kazianna, Lisa and I remained. We sat there inn silence for a long time, watching the orange and pink hues of light dance across the planet below. As the ship would cross back into the dark side of the planet we could see the lightning from the enormous storms that brewed upon its face. There was one storm very similar to the great red spot on Jupiter only this one was a very unique shade of purple and the part of the storm that had entered night, you could see it glow with an eerie green with each lightning flash. Lisa and I where setting there holding hands and enjoying each others company watching the light show when we heard the strangest of sounds. It sound like a hoarse moan coupled with a squeal. We turn our heads to see what in the world that could have made a sound like that when we received the shock of our lives. Breetai and Kazianna were making out! Apparently Kazianna was the one that had made the sound. They were practically having sex right there in front of us and the other hundreds of people who had joined us. I cleared my throat loudly and got their attention. With both of them looking at me I nonchalantly said "I'm sorry, should we leave?" Breetai grinned, which was a bit unnerving, and replied "Oh, I guess this isn't an appropriate time to press lips?" I shook my head and answered, "Pressing lips? Yes. What you two are doing? You may want to take it to your quarters." Then Kazianna grinned sheepishly, grabbed Breetai by the hand and left, with out saying another word. Breetai looked over his shoulder at us as they left and smiled an apology. Lisa and I chuckled and then settled back in our seats. She rested her head on my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around her. We spent the rest of the evening there. Not talking but listening to each others hearts.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = jscott_73ATyahoo.com