The Craft of Exploration

“The time has come!” Captain Kolcei announced as the crowd before him hushed. “We will evolve. As the technology from Earth dies, we’ll celebrate the Talithan way. We’ll change the definition of advanced from resource expensive technology to that which is ecologically sound. We’ll explore our planet by sail instead of drone.”

“Help me welcome the Commanders who will lead this adventure with me.” Captain Kolcei lifted a hand towards the Talithan on his right, “Commander Ira Freesa, she, her.” Then he shifted attention to his left, “Commander Fern, they, them.”

The crowd cheered and a loud ship’s whistle sounded with them. The harbinger of the journey that they were about to take. 

As the crowd started to disperse, some came to wish the Captain their best. He greeted each one with the proper Talithan greeting, stating his preferred pronouns and acknowledging theirs. He had dedicated two sol cycles to this endeavor and was elated to share the joint effort that brought them to this point.

The Captain watched with anticipation as the crew loaded food and other supplies into the hold of the ship. As he stood a cart rolled by, close, the wheel barely missing his foot. He looked into the hazel-green obstinate eyes of his Technology Commander, Ira Freesia. Before he had time to react, she was past him. Her head of dark curls bounced as she pushed her things into the belly of the ship and disappeared. 

Behind Ira walked Commander Fern. The juxtaposition of antagonistic to amiable parched his annoyance with Commander Freesia. They had played mediator during the planning stages. It seemed their duties there would have to continue.

"Well," Captain Kolcei thought, "at least she will keep me from growing lax."

As the crew prepared to leave, the Captain walked through the ship, admiring the craftsmanship. He was in the berthing hall when he heard a voice. He recognized the narrator from his favorite audiobook. Curious, he followed the sound. It led him to the open door of Commander Freesia.

"I didn't know that you liked Marta Andova, the octosyllable poet," Captain Kolcei said, surprised. 

Ira shrugged. "It was Fern’s recommendation. I am enjoying her work so far."

"Huh," Kolcei said. He distinctly remembered Fern telling him that Andova had made them yawn. He left her to a quatrain about traveling south through Anunitum’s dense forest.

Kolcei walked down the hall, and through the door that led to his bridge. He checked that all was ready. This was the first sailing voyage for all of Talitha. The equipment usage prior to today had only been experimental. 

A small doll with blue hair occupied his chair. A touch of home. His youngest sister had insisted that he bring her luckiest toy.

At last, it was time. The perfect symmetry of the sails caught the wind. The crew pulled the mooring lines from the dock and the anchor from the sea floor. His soul sang with pleasure as he felt the ship catch and drift away from The Great City of Anunitum.

He looked out of the large bridge, the visage of endless blue gratifying. He intended to go on deck soon and inhale the salty air. 

"We will arrive at the island by sunrise," a voice interrupted. 

The Captain nodded without looking at the speaker. The world before him was more interesting.

Later, Kolcei paused before the door that would lead to the small solar powered emergency backup engines. He knew he would find Ira here. He didn’t want his relationship with the Commander to be fractured for the entire trip. They had disagreed over the construction of the vessel. The ship was complete. He had to accept that a sails without a backup wasn’t safe enough. 

He opened the door to find her looking over some blueprints. 

"I see you are fostering knowledge."

"How astute of you," Ira said. "Are you making a record of what everyone in the crew is doing?"

"No," he said. After a pause, he added, “I’m just making my rounds.” 

"We’ve been gone for less than a day," Ira said. "I can handle the engine maintenance. Maybe Fern needs help to manage the deckhands."

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. 

"Captain," a voice said behind him, giving Kolcei's heart a startled leap. "We found something on the sonar."

Kolcei turned, relieved to have something take his focus. His liaison with trouble would save him from this awkward conversation.

Back on the bridge, a large screen showed a massive object floating a little bit above the sea floor. One end of it was narrow and moved ever so slightly. 

"It must be a sea creature," the Captain said. 

"What if it breaks our hull?" the worried sailor asked.

"I suppose that would irk Commander Fern," Kolcei said evenly, leaning in on the wry humor he used to combat stress.

"What will irk me?" Fern asked, walking into the conversation.

"Having a change of seafaring venue," Kolcei said. "Though we might have a fish fry instead."

A call went out to the ship through an alarm and the small digital tablets that they all carried. Though he only needed a few sailors for defensive measures, he didn’t want anyone to miss out on possibly discovering a new creature. 

At the Captain's command, the crew readied the harpoons. It would be easier to serve out their first mission if their vessel remained intact. 

In time, the arcane creature emerged from the depths. A deep blue fish that was nearly the length of the ship. 

Kolcei grabbed the spyglass off of its easel and used it to get a closer look. The dorsal fin had a particular shape. It was a large flat oval. Short mauve stalks emerged from the top of it. He couldn't imagine their purpose. It was surreal, a creature larger than he’d ever seen and with such an unusual trait.

"Please don't shoot," Commander Freesia entreated.

The Captain waited, on edge, but it seemed the large fish wanted to bond, not fight.

"Hold your fire!" the Captain commanded, hoping it was the right call. The clicks of harpoon gun safeties catching filled the air. Then a hush fell among the crew. Even their breathing seemed to stop. 

The nervous sailor who had originally reported the anomaly broke the silence. "It is so beautiful."

"Yes," Kolcei heard Ira sigh, fascination writ in her voice.

The creature flexed its massive tail fin and hit the side of the ship with a loud snap. Then, with a deep eerie keen, it swam away.

Silence hung in the air until Fern broke it. "I think Talitha Harbor just gave our captain a birthday gift." 

The crew stirred and a crescendo of voices filled the air. The Cook clapped her hands loudly to break up the noise.

"Let's celebrate. I have cake. Our evening will be sweetened with both the Captain's birthday and the mysterious sea creature."

The cook brought the dessert on deck so the crew could stand the watch in case the giant fish reappeared. The Captain found himself joined by both of his commanders. 

"Not as risque as your last birthday," Fern commented, "but still much better."

"Risque?" Ira asked, curious.

It surprised Kolcei that there was no sarcasm in Ira’s voice. Perhaps the giant sea creature is what they needed so they could find something to be of one accord with.

"Oh yes, Our Captain is a surprisingly wonderful dancer with enough drink," Fern said, grinning.

Kolcei sighed heavily, as if listening to the conversation was a mental trudge. "Don't tell the entire crew that," he said. "They might respect my command less."

Ira smirked. "If it's any comfort, it makes me appreciate you more."

Kolcei smiled at her. "Thanks."

She gave him a warm smile in return. Her face lit up in a way that sent an unexpected glow through him. “Oh no,” he told himself. “Don’t make things complicated in the other way.”

It had been a good and a long night. The Captain slept deeply until the ship's bell rang. He had only managed a scant amount of sleep, but didn’t care. The bell signified that they had spotted land. The excitement of the moment fueled him, more so than even the freshest coffee could.

An image of Ira from the night before came unbidden. A surprise birthday kiss gifted, brief but warm. Then the memory of her sashaying down the hall, her black curls bouncing with the movement, seemingly pleased with herself. 

Later, The Captain stood on the deck of his ship, overlooking the small island. He watched as his crew explored the island. They could have credit for taking the first steps, he was still enjoying the novelty of his new life as seagoing Talithan.

He saw a face looking up at him and met Ira’s eyes. He smiled down at her. Maybe he would dismiss his reservations and explore the sudden shift of harmony between them.