The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (15)

And they did.

They worked it out.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (14)

That happened.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (13)

So the decision was made

 we would send

sort of

who we could find

with the idea that 

on the long voyage between stars

they would work out what their organization might be

upon deployment.

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (12)

Little plastic citizens, of course.

Inflexible, yes.

But also nuanced.

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (11)

Understand, there were a bunch of citizens who

 we didn't really, 

well-

care 

much for

on our home planet of Kalkovac.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (10)

No one that had been trained, anyway.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (9)

And it being a five-year process to raise a regiment

we didn't have anybody for the Belknap.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (8)

But the Belknap showed up just two months

 after the 5897 Crescent sailed with the regiment

we'd raised.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (7)

. . . and off they go.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (6)

. . .and so on. . .

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (5)

all of them off, to see the stars

in office to the emperor of our king

of the king of our king

and his king

and to his king

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (4)

and brightest

(sometimes, sometimes not)

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (3)

And the planet, Kalkovac, provides

a regiment

19,640 of our best

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap (2)

We're all aware

(I'm sure)

of what the schedule demands: a freighter

arrive at our home planet,

Kalkovac

every five years to sit in orbit and embark.

 

The Unexpected Sailing Of The Belknap

Unscheduled.

 

Another Story 8

Such is the story

of the 

unexpected sailing of the

Belknap.

Another Story 7

Another Story 6

Always the risk.

 

Another Story 5

. . . at some point.

 

Another Story 4

Always the risk that the troops themselves

go native. . .