Taking on the name of 'Wolf' was often viewed as praising Sigmund who took on that mantle as a title of distinction and many generations of Gustafson men since have carried it in that way. Wolf Gustafson, changed the meaning and breaking tradition by honoring a traitor.
It was never shared openly, loyal soldiers of Wolf Gustafson helped end his misery and his stay on the island was brief with a mercy killing. The soldiers were found wanting and themselves punished and tortured severely. The fate of their descendants became intertwined with the Gustafson's who share home on Triton station and are the most loyal of their crew.
Captain Wolf often debates with his sister Louise on the fate of their namesake and were it not for the heroism of Sigmund their line would have diminished and decayed. It was incredible to consider the unnamed teacher's blood flowed through other descendants of Wolf Gustafson through Sophie marking their clan with greater prominence.
Louise cast shade on the notion and felt anyone who lived during those turbulent times were marked for distinction as so few survived the frequent wars and devastation. In time all the blood lines would intertwine and a future descendant could claim right to everything.
She had recently returned from another deep space adventure with Yuna. They crewed a new ship the Excalibur and were making great progress in understanding faster than light travel. The Excalibur was specially designed and retrofitted to exact specifications at Triton station by Yuna and several other engineers from both the inner and outer rims. Ignoring fuel considerations they could achieve a distance of 100,000 light years in an hour, but it would be a one way trip. They determined the optimum duration was closer to a week to ensure multiple jumps. The Excalibur could then feasibly travel 100 times further on the same amount of fuel.
Louise was giving her goodbyes to her brother as Yuna was preparing for a possible route to the edge of the universe and estimated it would take 30 years one way. She would not see Wolf again until they were both in their 90s. And if they discover the edge is not the end, they will likely push further to the limits to the feasible maximum of their fuel and supplies would allow. A maximum of 100 billion light years.
They spoke of the future and she left in Wolf's care her three daughters from a previous marriage. The eldest was near the age of recruitment into the sisters and while she was initially against it, she relented as Sophie Gustafson showed considerable promise. The others would make capable housewives.
Wolf's own growing family of seven children assured there would be another generation of Gustafson's and he wished his sister well on her final journey. He however had more difficult matters to attend to as he was assigned command of Tiersias and its military installation. He heard stories of the place from others who he held in high regard and was visibly shaken by what they told of secret experiments and the existence of monstrous hybrids. He was very upset when he learned of the defection of Ul-Kaine as they were dear friends and this raised suspicions among the Loyalists who questioned his own devotion to the cause.
It made him angry as he trusted Ul-Kaine and held him the highest regard above all others. But it made him harbor self doubt and fearfully he admitted privately only to Louise that something serious must have happened to cause someone like Ul-Kaine to defect and renounce the Proto-Artesians. Ul-Kaine was in command of the previous research facility on Despina and little is shared beyond whispers that something terrible befell the scientists and soldiers stationed there.
The captain, a colleague of Wolf's who was assigned the task of cleaning up Despina suddenly committed suicide a short while after and most of his crew also died in mysterious and unusual ways. In ever increasing circles, he feels something or someone is picking off all of his trusted friends and feels relieved that Louise would embark on a long journey far, far away from the intrigue.
Louise surprised Wolf when she asked for his advice on the matters of her ex-husband. They married at a young age and were both assigned as junior officers aboard their first training vessel. They were together for seven years and divorced on good terms. He was once a promising officer, but the stress from several difficult assignments damaged his resolve and he retired to a desk job on Triton. That wasn't the reason they separated as most would assume, but it was more on his terms and she felt she owed him a debt.
There are no debts between lovers was Wolf's automatic response. To claim otherwise is to assume the principle of ownership. Either party can choose to stay or fall out of love at anytime and any burdens are their own. He had since remarried to a woman more suitable and by all measures is happy and content. Louise envies him as he found what he wanted very early in life and she continues to search for her purpose.
The captain, a colleague of Wolf's who was assigned the task of cleaning up Despina suddenly committed suicide a short while after and most of his crew also died in mysterious and unusual ways. In ever increasing circles, he feels something or someone is picking off all of his trusted friends and feels relieved that Louise would embark on a long journey far, far away from the intrigue.
Louise surprised Wolf when she asked for his advice on the matters of her ex-husband. They married at a young age and were both assigned as junior officers aboard their first training vessel. They were together for seven years and divorced on good terms. He was once a promising officer, but the stress from several difficult assignments damaged his resolve and he retired to a desk job on Triton. That wasn't the reason they separated as most would assume, but it was more on his terms and she felt she owed him a debt.
There are no debts between lovers was Wolf's automatic response. To claim otherwise is to assume the principle of ownership. Either party can choose to stay or fall out of love at anytime and any burdens are their own. He had since remarried to a woman more suitable and by all measures is happy and content. Louise envies him as he found what he wanted very early in life and she continues to search for her purpose.
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