Jethro 8 Snippet 3

On to Chapter 3:

Chapter3

 

Antigua

 

ShantiMcClintock found out that it would take 8 months for the courier to pick itsway around the western reaches of the sector and get back to the capital. Itwould take 3 months for the ship to get them to Kathy’s World so she let thecubs enjoy their first semester in college.

Theywere going to travel in stasis in military shipping. She was firm about themgoing, though she had to work on a couple of the cubs who put up a fuss. Someof them were refusing to commit to going. That bothered her. They were all incollege at the Antigua University. Bagheera was struggling though.

Sheshot an email off to Lil White and her husband to alert them that they were allcoming, but didn’t have a hard ETA. She would follow that up later.

Shewas looking forward to the trip.

  >>*<<

“Rebuildingthe Cadre got a shot in the arm,” Warrant Morris said with a grin as he lookedat the numbers. “We just got the better part of a platoon, or will when we getthem back here and sorted out.”

“Iknow,” General Lyon said with a thoughtful nod.

“Thefinal butcher’s bill will have some impact. I do admit getting the veteransback will be great,” Mars stated.

“Iknow,” the general said again.

“We’llhave to bring them up to speed with the Cadre 3.0 program,” Mars stated.“They’ll need updating.”

“We’llhave time for that. How are they medically?” General Lyon asked as he looked toRear Admiral Nara Thornby, the naval officer in command of the medics in theCadre program.

“Bad.Some worse off than others like Ox and Jethro,” Nara said as she consulted hernotes. She had made a few based on what the medics had sent from TFP.

“Thatbad?”

“Yes.They will need extensive time to recover. Their suits are all compromised; theyhad to strip them for parts. Their AI have downgraded a lot. That is a problem.They tapped out their bodies for nanites and nutrition. Some didn’t eat ordrink for months.”

GeneralLyon winced as some around the table sucked in a shocked breath.

“Howis that even possible?” Lieutenant Feathersnake asked.

“Theyexisted on willpower, their implants, and rotating in and out of stasis,” Narasaid. “From the sound of it, a lot of will power.”

“Ibet.”

“Oxis the hardest hit. A few of the Cadre went into stasis immediately and wereonly woken to donate nanites to help with the ship maintenance. They aren’tthat bad. But all of them are going to need trauma and psychologicalcounseling. Not just for grief over the friends they lost, but also for thetime they lost too,” Nara stressed. “The galaxy kept moving while they drifted.Some of them got left behind. I know two of them are going to have additionalgrief issues since some of their family died when they were in stasis.”

TheGeneral nodded sagely.

“Thegood news about their armor is that it is now ripe for the Cadre 3.0 upgrade,”Willow said. She was clearly excited to meet some of the legends of the Cadre.“When they get here I mean.” She frowned. “Can’t we send them updates? Youknow, some packages to help them along while they are in transit?” she askedplaintively, turning to the admiral.

Narafrowned thoughtfully. After a moment she shrugged. “There is only so much wecan do to heal their bodies. They need time, proper nutrition, physical therapyto get back into shape, and time for their minds to heal.”

Thegeneral noted the emphasis on time and nodded.

“WarrantMcClintock made it clear he is going to be taking an extensive leave to be withhis family,” Mars said. Commander Enki had passed that tip on to him.

“Understandable.Understandable for all of them and all leaves are approved,” the generalstated. “We can get them checked out as they settle in.”

Naranodded and made a note.

“So,no hit in the arm when they get back?” Morris asked, clearly disappointed.

“No,it’s going to take a while. But I’m for one glad they are back at all,” thegeneral said finally before moving on to the next item of business.

>>*<<

ZuhuraMcClintock was still coming to grips with her father’s survival. The entireCadre was excited and all smiles about the survival of an entire platoon oflegends. Her father had seemingly done the impossible… again.

Shehad visited with her mom and helped her to arrange the trip to Kathy’s World.But Shanti had mentioned some stiffening resistance from some of the cubs. Shewondered if her mother could let them go and be adults yet or if she was goingto put her foot down.

Shehoped for their sake that they went and met their father to get to know him,and vice versa. But she knew that they would never make up the time lost.

>>*<<

LilRed was the most excited of all of the cats to see Jethro. Shanti was amused byher excitement. She had always shared a special relationship with Jethro, onethat Shanti had come to accept.

“Itis going to be like old times!” Red said, jumping from the back of the couch tothe table and then back.

Shantichuffed and shook her head. Shy got into the act and chased Red, making herscamper with delight and her old youthful exuberance.

>>*<<

Cleopatrawasn’t certain what to make of her father’s miraculous survival and upcomingreturn. She was reluctant to go to Kathy’s World. Her mother was leaning onthem hard now that the date of departure was coming closer.

Shehad wrapped herself up in the University initially. But she hadn’t liked theculture and some of her professors. She hadn’t liked being in the studentdorms, they’d been hell. No privacy, the smells had made her gag… she shook herhead in annoyance.

Sheknew that Shy had a similar experience with her freshman year. They had droppedclasses to the minimum and were regrouping. The university refused to let thembunk together. They had gotten hints that an extended sabbatical might helpthem prioritize their futures.

Shehated being pressured. But she did like the idea of an adventure to theirmother’s homeworld, it could be fun but her entire life, her friends were allon Antigua. She had finals coming up. She needed to focus on that. Things mightchange between then and now.

>>*<<