Rocket! An Ell Donsaii story #4) by Laurence Dahners Page A

Secretary of Defense Amundsen standing behind her. She saluted him and he said, “I thought that was you!” He grinned at her. “What are you doing back in uniform?”
    “Um, Sir, this is the class I would originally have graduated with and they invited me to their graduation ceremony as a special guest. General Ammonds asked me to hand out the diplomas. Since I’m in the reserves I still have the uniform…”
     
    When the Secretary finished his commencement speech to the graduates he paused. Then said, “I have a real treat for you today. In a break from tradition this year, your diplomas are to be handed out by a celebrity.” He paused again. “A celebrity and a former member of your class… An early graduate, who earned early promotion to Captain… I give you Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Medal of Honor winner… Captain Ell Donsaii!”
    As Ell blushed, the susurrus of puzzled murmurs amongst the crowd crescendoed into a lusty cheer.
     
    After the ceremony Ell walked down the stairs from the stand and found Phil, Joy and Jason waiting with their families. She was introduced around. Because of their long military history Phil’s family was especially enthusiastic about meeting her.
    Phil and Jason’s families had already made plans to go out to dinner together and they began to get ready to leave the stadium. Ell had Allan call her car and wondered somewhat despondently when the next flight back to NC would be. Phil turned to her and said, “Ell, I’m hoping you’ll be my ‘plus one’ at dinner?”
    “Sure!” Ell said with a big smile. She’d been pretty let down at the thought of flying back right after the ceremony.
     
    At the dinner Ell turned to Phil and asked, “So what’s the word from NASA?
    “Oh they’re really in trouble with this Vulcan 5 thing. No one can believe they got themselves in this situation with no backup system to re-supply the station!”
    Ell glared at him, “You know what I mean! Did you get accepted?”
    “Hmmm, let me check with my AI,” he looked up at his HUD.
    She poked him in the ribs, “You got in didn’t you! You wouldn’t be messing with me like this if you didn’t!”
    He grinned, still looking up at his HUD. “Hmm, Yup! Says here I head to Houston for training in July. After a well deserved break from the rigors of my life so far…”
    She poked him again, marveling at how hard his abs were. “I can’t believe you didn’t already tell me. ‘Spaceman’ Zabrisk! Will you still have time for me when you’re a famous astronaut with girls falling all over you?”
    Phil’s mother leaned toward Ell, “I think he’ll always have time for you .” She winked at Ell.
     
     

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Washington D.C.—NASA announced a deal with the Chinese to send up supplies for the Space Station on one of the PRC’s “Crouching Tiger” launch vehicles. A special adaptor is being constructed to allow the Chinese capsule to connect to the Space Station’s airlock. Many have expressed surprise that the Chinese are willing to help in this situation, no matter how desperate…
     
    Ell’s flight from Colorado landed in Raleigh late in the evening. The seven members of her security team who’d gone to Colorado with her were met by a pair of their own cars but Ell asked Steve to ride with her to talk about how the team was doing. “Are they happy? Do they like the farm and their houses?” Ell had bought a few houses near the farm for the team and only the “ready team” actually slept in the outbuilding next to her house. To get those houses she’d used the same tactic of offering the homeowners a price well above market value.
    “Oh yeah! Everyone seems to be really happy. This is pretty much a dream job for security people like us. You don’t do crazy stuff or even travel much. You pay very well and provide great benefits. Providing housing is unheard of, let alone excellent housing like you got for us. It may be a problem if some