Chapter 17.1

From: Tyler Cody
Subject: Big news for the new year
Date: January 01, 2019 11:07 a.m.
To: Brandon Devlin

(CLT): 10 min 29.42 sec

It is indeed a happier new year, good friend. I’ve been promoted to the rank of Captain and they’ve included a raise in pay retroactive to being ‘wounded in the line of duty’ (that’s what they’re calling it now). It goes back to the night of the mission announcement, the nightmarish evening that my dearest Claire was killed. I was placed on the disabled list right after. Maybe it’s their way of giving me additional compensation for my loss of Claire, even though they’re NOT calling it that. Maybe it was because a foreign power may have caused the injury. No one has claimed responsibility for Claire or the rover. There could never be enough compensation for that sort of loss for anyone, but the extra income will come in mighty handy.

And more first-rate news: The witch doctors have given me a clean bill of health. The shrinks even gave me a pass. In the psychological exam, I showed them that I’m not psycho, but I am logical. (wink) So, I will no longer be the Acting Mission Support Commander. They have officially given me the designation of Mission Support Commander. That means you’re stuck with me for a while, but not for the duration of the mission. There’s an excellent reason: I’ve been given command of the next mission. While you’re heading home, I’ll be zipping along on my way to the sunny, southern slopes of Hibes Montes. So, the next time you make a trip over to FP2, stow away a bottle or two of that bubbly for me, will ya. ; ~ p Of course, that means we won’t be in the same place, at the same time until at least May or June, 2023. Good thing we can still get email from Mars.

See you on the flip side, Ty

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