09-19-2020, 11:41 PM
Months had passed, Cambridge had changed. When one is in the same place for months or even years at a time, time seems to stand still. Nothing changes in a day or a week or even a year, people meander about their lives with little awareness or even care for their surroundings, only bothering to look up when something truly remarkable happens, which is rare.
Yet, if one had been away for a time, and returned, everything seems different. Victor noticed changes immediately. Barton was still the unassuming domestic star port it had always been, only now there seemed to be more tourists. Libertonians and Rheinlanders mainly, and someone had bothered to attempt to make the place look nice. A change that seemed...odd. A new row of trees struck him as almost out of place, but in time, he'd have to get used to it.
The long corridors of the star port were cleaner as well, but the one toward the Armed Forces Terminal was, surprisingly, empty. There were fewer troops and officers and only a handful of guards at the checkpoint.
Bassingbourn Barracks Victor said to the officer on duty
Do you have a pass, sir? the younger woman asked
Yes. Came the unhappy reply. There was a time when he could just go through, not anymore. A strange feeling to be forgotten, he smiled at himself. How pride hath changed man. He gave his pass to the officer who scanned it and allowed him to move on. The shuttle was largely empty as well, a handful of logistics officers filled the front seats but other than that, no one. He smoothed over his old Lieutenant Commander's uniform, now clearly faded from lack of use, but still good, and more importantly, valid. He was happy to learn that Redmond had not changed the uniform while he was gone.
Arriving at Bassingbourn and once again presenting his pass to the various officers and officials, he finally made his way to the officer of the Lord Admiral. O'Brian, as he remembered her, was a pretty thing, however John had killed any possible chance of any kind of relationship, outside of professional. The waiting room was empty, a warm sun shone through the windows lighting the room, the windows were half open and the birdsong fluttered through, but otherwise, there was nothing remarkable.
Ten minutes passed before the door opened, a group of senior officers exited, signal corps by the look of them. Victor stood at attention as they left, as was expected, they passed by and left without so much as a word. You may go in the P.A said from his desk, without looking up. Victor said nothing, as he opened the door.
Leftenant Commander Steiner, reporting, as ordered Admiral he said calmly, standing at attention for O'Brian, as he had done so many times before.
Yet, if one had been away for a time, and returned, everything seems different. Victor noticed changes immediately. Barton was still the unassuming domestic star port it had always been, only now there seemed to be more tourists. Libertonians and Rheinlanders mainly, and someone had bothered to attempt to make the place look nice. A change that seemed...odd. A new row of trees struck him as almost out of place, but in time, he'd have to get used to it.
The long corridors of the star port were cleaner as well, but the one toward the Armed Forces Terminal was, surprisingly, empty. There were fewer troops and officers and only a handful of guards at the checkpoint.
Bassingbourn Barracks Victor said to the officer on duty
Do you have a pass, sir? the younger woman asked
Yes. Came the unhappy reply. There was a time when he could just go through, not anymore. A strange feeling to be forgotten, he smiled at himself. How pride hath changed man. He gave his pass to the officer who scanned it and allowed him to move on. The shuttle was largely empty as well, a handful of logistics officers filled the front seats but other than that, no one. He smoothed over his old Lieutenant Commander's uniform, now clearly faded from lack of use, but still good, and more importantly, valid. He was happy to learn that Redmond had not changed the uniform while he was gone.
Arriving at Bassingbourn and once again presenting his pass to the various officers and officials, he finally made his way to the officer of the Lord Admiral. O'Brian, as he remembered her, was a pretty thing, however John had killed any possible chance of any kind of relationship, outside of professional. The waiting room was empty, a warm sun shone through the windows lighting the room, the windows were half open and the birdsong fluttered through, but otherwise, there was nothing remarkable.
Ten minutes passed before the door opened, a group of senior officers exited, signal corps by the look of them. Victor stood at attention as they left, as was expected, they passed by and left without so much as a word. You may go in the P.A said from his desk, without looking up. Victor said nothing, as he opened the door.
Leftenant Commander Steiner, reporting, as ordered Admiral he said calmly, standing at attention for O'Brian, as he had done so many times before.