Bye, Bye, Bozeman (Backpost)
Posted on Friday October 3, 2025 @ 7:52pm by Lieutenant Michael Caulfield
Edited on on Friday October 3, 2025 @ 7:52pm
379 words; about a 2 minute read
Mission:
Episode 1: A New Frontier
Location: Caulfield Ranch, Bozeman, Montana
Michael was going through three eggs, breakfast sausages and a pile of breakfast potatoes while his father sat sipping coffee. His mother was at the stove working on another round of food for when her visiting grandsons woke up.
"So, when are you shipping out, Son?" Michael's father, Nathan Senior, said, looking over the rim of his coffee mug.
"Pretty much soon as I'm done with breakfast," Michael said. "Gotta start crawling through the ship asap and see what's what."
"Mmm," Nathan said, nodding. "Good to get a jump on the day."
"I wish you could at least stay a couple more hours," his mother, Amanda said from the stove. "The boys are going to be sad their favorite uncle is gone before they wake up."
"Don't worry, Ma," Michael said, chuckling. "They got their fill of me last night. Three rounds of 'Humans and Romulans' plus that two-on-one wrestling match wore me out."
His parents chuckled, and his mother refilled his coffee. Michael ate in silence while his father read a weather report and his mother went back to cooking. His parents were warm, friendly people, but didn't often talk when not necessary. His father would say it gave the children more room to express themselves, and growing up with three siblings, they needed all the room they could get.
Michael ate his last bite, finished his coffee and wiped his mouth, standing up. He picked up his plate to put it in the sink but his mother waved him off, assuring him she'd take care of it. He gave his parents a hug and grabbed his carry-all waiting by the table. "Well, here I go again," he said, grinning.
"We'll leave the porch light on for ya," his father said.
Michael grinned and waved as he headed out the front door, heading for the nearest transport up to his new ship.
Two hours later, a transporter beam released him into the transporter room. He looked around, approvingly. "Nice," he said, grinning. He nodded to the transporter chief and stepped off, heading out to the corridor and his quarters. He wanted to change into his uniform as quickly as he could so he could get to Engineering and see what new toys he had to play with.
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