<USS Avalon> Bravo Base

Bravo Base
by Admiral Keith  Ketchum and Sergeant Dora Fane

Admiral Keith Ketchum waited  patiently at Bravo Base, deep within the 
asteroid. After the mission with  Commander Wilkinson, he took a little time to 
himself.

He had been  keeping up with the Avalon's mission. After the surprising loss 
of Commander  Wilkinson on his return to the Horizon, he wanted to write the 
letters to the  Commander's family.

Finishing those and sending them on their way, the  next order of business 
was to wait for the new crew for the Avalon and be on his  way back. He 
understood that there was one new member for his Marine contingent,  and a 
couple of 
Astrometric personnel to return with him. 

Dora Fane  walked through Bravo Base to the staging area. She had a large 
duffle bag slung  on one shoulder while a full pack was strapped to her back. 
In 
one hand was a  large weapons case she never left to anyone else's care even 
though she was told  everything would be loaded into the cargo area of the 
transport she would be  going on. Around her neck was a strange bronze and gold 
color bulge that seems  to have eyes that sparkled and a long arrow type tails. 
Tic the Bronze made a  squawking growl when someone came too close and Tac her 
Gold Fire Lizard opened  her beak to show the stranger its sharp beak. Dora 
reached up and calmed her  bonded with a caress while she grinned as the man 
gave her a wide berth. There  was no way she could leave Tic and Tac home with 
her family, for they would  simply leave them and "pop" above her head wherever 
she was.

When she was  on a recon mission alone on a planet that little was known 
about, she had set up  her base in a small cave. She had noticed the nest and 
the 
strange gold lizard  that seemed to pop in and out of the cave. It never 
bothered her after it  realized she would be no harm to her eggs. She had 
noticed 
the eggs starting to  hatch during a very bad storm one night. She had watched 
while the gold lizard  popped out and then would reappear moments later with 
small fish and other  things for the hatchlings to eat. The eggs all seemed to 
hatch at once and those  that did not see the food attacked its hatch mates. 
When Dora saw that she  grabbed some food bars from her pack and broke up 
pieces and lured 2 toward her  and away from the others. She was very surprised 
that she was able to get them  onto her lap as she feed them. They sent her 
"feelings" of hunger at first then  contentment as they filled their stomachs 
and 
went to sleep in her arms. That  had surprised her as she hadn't expected them 
to "send" her their feelings. All  the other hatchlings that had survived were 
gone and the gold mother lizard  looked at her and seeing that the last 2 
were content and happy she too popped  out. She smiled inwardly as she recalled 
the time. Of course, when she had  returned from her mission with the 2 fire 
lizards, her captain was not amused  but there was really nothing that could be 
done as the lizards had an emotional  bond with her similar to that of some 
well known humanoid races. She shook her  thoughts off as she entered the 
staging area, straightened herself as much as  possible with her baggage and 
looked 
around. She saw the admiral and went to  stand in front of him and stood at 
attention. "Sergeant Dora Fane reporting for  transport to the Avalon."

He surveyed the sergeant a moment, and finally  spoke, "At ease Sergeant.  
We'll be leaving as soon as the others  arrive.  Go ahead and stow your stuff 
on 
the shuttle and relax for a  moment.  We should be heading out in a few 
moments."

With a nod and  an "Aye sir", Dora entered the shuttle, looked around and 
then stowed her gear.  Since she had no idea how long she would have to wait 
she 
found a seat and  pulled out a real made of paper book. In order to better 
understand humans whom  she worked so closely with she had started reading 
their 
literature. Time to see  what trouble Tom Sawyer and his friend was going to 
find themselves in the  middle of next.
 
Finally the new Astrometric  staff arrived and stowed their stuff and 
situated themselves on the  shuttle.
 
Keith entered and took a seat  also, "Whenever you are ready, Ensign."
 
"Understood, Admiral, I already  have clearance from the bay", as he took the 
shuttle out and on their way to the  Avalon.
 



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