The next morning, Trell, Ted, and Alana were invited to see the troops off for the major battle. They stood in an almost incomprehensibly big hanger where the crews of at least five huge Kolean battle cruisers were stationed. Kolean troops dutifully stood in their organized V-shaped ranks.
The three of them were invited to say a few words, but Ted didn’t have the heart to do so and Alana and Trell didn’t see the need. After General Toka gave a bare bones rundown of the mission, the soldiers began to move in formation to the docking tubes and their assigned ships. Within minutes, the crowded hanger was evacuated and silent as a ghost town.
“Well, they’re off,” Alana said, stretching her stiff muscles after being bedridden. “I guess we can go sit in the food court and relax for a change.” The three left the hanger along a main corridor.
As they walked, Trell nuzzled against Alana’s neck in a rather suggestive manner. “You have no idea how I’m looking forward to having some time off.” Ted didn’t know much about Kolean sex mores, but he was sure he was seeing a rather blatant display.
“I’m going back to the December,” Ted said, a little shyly. He hadn’t been on the ship in days and he really had nowhere else to go.
“We’ll meet you there,” Alana said. She and Trell took the next left off the corridor while Ted took the next right, heading back towards the docking tube.