Banished! — 10: After the Storm

Following his trial on Earth, with its predetermined outcome, Matt had been offered the Captain role on one of the three ships. He had initially turned it down, saying he would just become one of the colonists on board. Due to his previous military experience long ago, including serving on the Joint Chiefs, the so-called Interviewers had pressured him with threats to his son’s family. His son had become one of the New Liberators, seeming not to care about Matt’s exile. Still, Matt wanted nothing to happen to the family. He’d finally accepted the position that he resolved would be as brief as possible. He hoped Jada would soon be able to form a government that would let him live simply, without complication or confrontation.

Hours after the storm had fully passed, Matt visited the lower depths of the ship and spoke to the engineer in charge of repairing the leakage. He was assured all was fine and that there shouldn’t be any future re-occurrence.

Matt stopped by the First Officer’s station to speak briefly with Carson about getting the crew together to assign roles for installing the topside extenders. He didn’t tell Carson what Jada had informed him about the other two ships plotting against them. He wanted to proceed with the extenders, while he tried to figure out the best way to prevent the sabotage. Communications from the other two ships remained silent. Matt…