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Apol o 918 The trip of no return
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Joseph Thomas
Arriving at my room-office-command post, I
communicated with the other security chiefs in the
other two ships. From a secure communication
channel told them what happened and asked them to
increase surveillance on civilians of greater
importance. The Russian colonel informed me that in
his ship so far, they had only small altercations that
had occurred among civilians. Fabien, the French
Colonel, also reported a corpse, but for medical
reasons, we agreed communicate every 4 hours thru
this secure channel and report to us of ant the events
in each ship.
I felt strong and calm so far facing the enemies of
Apollo 918. I gave other colonels instructions and
also asked for their discretion. I let my body rest for a
moment and lied in bed, just wanted to relax my
muscles a bit for five minutes before continuing my
work.
*********
My father took out of the fridge two cold beers, they
were covered with a thin white frosting, after he
opened it, uncovered a white smoke that escaped
through the mouth of the bottle. We were in the
backyard and a coal burner showed red flames over
coal rocks, he was cooking burgers. It was spring and
the trees in the backyard were fully bloomed, the
grass bright green. The lake gleamed, with midday
sun and invited to jump into the water.
The old man, with the wave of his hand, called me to
sit beside him on the bench, as a boy I helped build to
put in front of the lake and under the shade of the
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Apol o 918 The trip of no return
trees. Arriving at my side, he put his hand over my
shoulder, which I was surprised, my father was not an
affectionate person. Remember the day we built this
together? He asked, looking at me tenderly sitting by
his side.
- Yes. I remember. It was now, spring. I felt you
hammering outside my room, I saw you cutting the
wood. I remember I wanted to help. You put my hands
for the first time a smaller hammer with some nails. I
think I was about nine years. I spent my days running
from here to there. That afternoon was the first time I
felt like a man, but ended up mistreating my fingers
with the hammers. After that I sat every evening on
this bench made with freshly cut wood of pine forest. I
was proud of it.
- Yes. Until the day you left. - My father starring at
the shiny reflections on the lake. I did not look at him
because I knew he would have a tear running down
his cheek. I let him vent completely.
- The day you left with your military uniform, you
were just a kid. That war in Iraq that lasted so many
years. Your mother God rest her soul prayed every
night without you knowing it. We were also at war
with you, every word, every report we kept informed.
Until you returned as a corporal. Then another war
and another. Your mother could not take it. I always
knew that one day your mother could bear the
uncertainty of whether you came back or not. With
every war, we filled this country with deaths, young
brave men like you. We got up every morning
expecting officer’s visit with the yellow envelope.
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Joseph Thomas
Every night giving thanks to God for another day
without the bad news.
- You never accepted that I wanted to be in the
military. I said loudly and almost standing up.
- No! We never accepted that you were fighting
causes that were not yours.
- In the military you abide orders, that's what you
never understood. I said emphatically.
- And men break them when they are not fair,
dammit!
The noise of the bottle crashing against the rocks of
Lake woke me up. I was dreaming again with my
father, very far away from this ship and all these
problems. How I wished, I could be there even if it
was in a controversial conversation with him. There,
in my backyard, under my tree, sitting on my bench..
*********
Cadet Neal suddenly appeared at my door telling me
there was some kind of commotion in the top
command post, General Pot had called me several
times thru my intercom and seeing that I did not
respond he sent the cadet for me. I must report
urgently to the central control room of Apollo 918.
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Apol o 918 The trip of no return
Upon arriving there I found joy among all flight
captains. Some hugging, others laughed, others cried.
I searched for answers, when I found general Pot, and
saw him sitting with documents in his hands. When
he saw me, he stood up and almost ran to where I was
standing, I was watching the excitement in the control
room. The General handed me the documents to read,
and was waiting for my reaction. I could not believe
what my eyes were reading. It was the latest report
from Earth, where the nuclear warheads were
reported as been found. At present the Iranian
president was trying to surrender to coalition forces.
The nuclear warheads were hidden in the African
desert. There were exactly twelve nuclear warheads.
Without much thought I embraced the general and
almost kissing on his cheeks I said:
- I told you General that soon we would fighting and
winning other battles.
The man did not feel sorry I hugged him in front of
everyone, in short, the joy was present in the air, no
one noticed our warm embrace. When do we receive
the order to return? Was the question I asked.
- We must wait orders from the Pentagon. According
to the report, we'll be firing engines in about five
hours. The other ships were also informed of this and
the joy is general in all command posts. Civilians
have not been informed as of yet to avoid causing
disturbance, due to the joy, as soon as we decide to
return. As for the murder case, we will resume
investigating in land and the guilty will be brought to
justice. Take advantage of this time and go to the
hospital. Get the wound on your arm treated. I’m sure
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Joseph Thomas
we will be greeted by the president.
- Thank you, General. I will go to the hospital now.
You have given me great joy.
*********
I saw her at the hospital. I was able to stop for a few
minutes and stare. For the first time I stood silent
before her beauty. The white coat contrasted with her
black hair and straight up the middle of her back. I
was still, watching zealously as she examined the
throat of a boy sitting on a dark metal table. I felt like
hugging her around her waist and tell her the great
news. She wore tight military pants that hugged her
thighs, which caused my thoughts to wander in other
territories. In her hands a pen, which she played with
and the boy. I envied that smile. She looked up and
saw me watching her.
- Colonel? What can I do for you?
- Yes -was my answer- The General has ordered me
to come and check my wound. The band is stained
with blood.
- Come on in, please sit. I’ll be with you shortly. She
finished with the boy in only seconds, I wanted to
think that it was because she wanted to come to me as
soon as possible. She came to me prepared with
scissors in hand. Without my permission she took my
arm and cut the band at once. I kept staring at her but
I dared not say a word. Finally, I thought that upon
my return, I would not see her again, my military life
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Apol o 918 The trip of no return
did not allow me such luxuries of love and family
life. I do not know if she felt the lack of concern on
face. Sometimes women have that sixth sense that
allows them to read a man’s mind easily. I know men
would give anything to find out what a woman thinks
even if he has been by her side for more than twenty
years.
- Something wrong, Colonel? Anything new you want
to share with me? I see in his eyes a tranquility and
happiness do you want to share with me?
- Indeed, there is good news, but you know I cannot
share confidential information with other non-military
personnel.
- Do not worry. I understand perfectly.
I reacted when she spilled rubbing alcohol on my
wound. As if in revenge for my refusal to tell the
doctor the news, she while smiling. It really hurt me,
but I must admit I also liked her reaction. A little
game began between us. She bandaged my arm and
ended the necessary treatment. I stood and walked to
the door. I turned around and looked at her. I found
myself face to face with her eyes full of light. She
was looking at me. I gave her a wink and in a single
sentence said- We will soon return, The Dr. as her
prize to my confession gave me a smile.
I decided to gather my soldiers and prepare them for
the return. I had to organize everything and still not
relent in our mission. We had to take care of all
civilians and make sure they went back to earth safe.
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Joseph Thomas
Almost as I began talking to everyone an alarm
sounded throughout the ship. I ordered my sergeants
to remain calm and return to their posts. I ran to the
command post. My legs did not respond fast enough.
Upon my arrival everyone was glued to the glass that
left us to look outside. A dead silence pervaded the
room, no one was in place. Only lights on the controls
reassured me that the ship was in operation. I did not
ask or say anything. I approached the glass. I could
not believe what was in front of my eyes. The planet
until a few minutes ago, covered in blue and white
was now a deep orange. From our place we could see
the seething atmosphere in flames, smoke in several
parts of the parts of earth. It was a heartbreaking
spectacle. I swear in my ears I could hear the screams
of horror of thousands of innocent men and women. It
was all a ball fire and death. The blue was lost while
tears welled down the faces of all around me. I do not
know if that moment lasted hours or minutes. For me
it was eternal. The color of death covered the entire
planet. Not a free space. Many hands on their heads in
disbelief. Others were still staring into the end of life
of our species. Everyone was crying. I searched
general Pot. I found him in a chair unarmed. With his
shirt open. Hands detached from his chair. I looked
for answers in his your eyes, I asked a question:
-What do we do now?
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Joseph Thomas