Chapter Two: Informally Formal


    Rai, worried about his friend and captain, navigated to deck two and to Hirota’s quarters. He approached the door and pressed a button on the communication panel to alert Hirota that he was outside. Hirota’s Face appeared on a small screen above the communication panel.


“What can I do for you Rai?” Hirota asked with a fatigued tone in his voice.

“Just wanted to come check on you Cap’, Everything alright?” Rai replied while leaning on the comm panel. “Everything is fine.” Hirota answered shortly. “Captain, I think I have worked with you long enough to know when there is a problem” Rai responded. “I am just worried about you sir.” There was a slight moment of silence, then Hirota said “Come on in Rai, we need to talk”  Hirota shut off the screen on the comm panel and opened the door.

Rai walked into Captain Hirota’s quarters. It was a rather large, and well decorated cabin, with an L shaped couch located towards the entrance door further back in the room was Hirota’s desk where he was sitting. The cabin lighting had been turned down to a candle like brightness.


“Captain, what’s going on?” Rai asked concerned.

“Sit down Rai” Hirota gestured toward the couch as he got up from his chair at the desk and walked over to join Rai at the couch. Hirota was holding a tablet. The screen on the tablet was light up bright and a document had been pulled up. “Do you know what this is?” Hirota asked. “No sir.” Answered Rai. “This, my boy, is my Letter of Resignation.” Hirota began “I cannot keep doing this Rai. We are out here for months at a time. The last time we arrived at spacedock and shuttled down to Earth, it felt like my son had grown up without me. I told my wife this was my last run” Hirota sat the tablet down on a small end table. “I understand, Hirota we are going to miss the hell out of you, but family comes first” Rai responded somberly. “Rai, I want you to know that I am recommending you as my replacement.”

“Thank you sir” Rai said appreciatively. “That means alot coming from you.”

“This ship needs you Rai. She has a good crew and deserves a great captain. I will miss all of you in this shoebox” Hirota smiled. “How about a drink?”

“That sounds good Cap. Miyazaki has the ship under control for the moment”


Hirota stood up and walked over to his desk. He kept a bottle of Sake in the bottom drawer for a special occasion, even though company policy has a no alcohol policy on all ships.

   

The next few hours were spent rehatching long forgotten stories of their adventures together; Crew members that have come and gone, unusual cargo that they have transported, the good times and the bad times that have transpired over the years.


… “What about that time that the anti gravity gen’s went down in the mess haul? Mutsuhito was cleaning gravy out of the air conditioning vents for weeks!” Rai laughed.

“Well the kitchen needed a good cleaning.” Hirota replied.


The two friends reminiscing was abruptly ended with a loud bang toward the port side of the ship, followed by all of the interior light flickering completely out then the emergency lighting coming on. “What the hell was that?” Rai exclaimed

“I have no idea but we better get back to the bridge” Hirota replied.