Carlton Loftin

Space Searcher 5 Carlton Loftin

Captain Martha Johanson was in her quarters. Her ship was returning to earth from a six month trip in space looking for planets that would sustain human life. She was looking through her pictures on her personal computer of her newborn and the baby's father. When she was a lieutenant second in command on Space Searcher 3, she was in a personal relationship with the captain, and had been for quite some time. When they returned from a four-month mission, which had turned into a six month mission because of certain events, she found she was two months pregnant. It usually took several months of inspections and repairs on a returning ship. Every part was gone over before it was allowed back into space. Before the ship was returned to duty, she was too far into the pregnancy. She wasn't allowed back into flight and was assigned desk duty. The day after her baby girl was delivered, the baby's father, Captain Jason Camron and Space Searcher 3 were dispatched on their new mission. Before he left, they gave their little girl a name; Shilo Makala Johanson. Shilo was chosen because Camron's heritage was part American Indian. Makala came from Johanson's side of the family. Her grandmother was part Japanese. There were also pictures on her computer of the crew members of Space Searchers 1 and 2. A lot of those officers were friends. She trained with many, and a few were her instructors when back at base. Searcher 1 didn't return from one of its 3 month missions. After two more months of hearing nothing, Searcher 2 was sent on the same charted trek that the other ship had used, in hopes of finding out what went wrong. That ship never returned, either. Space command refrained from sending another searcher in that direction. The loss of two starships and crews was devastating. When Searcher 3 was ready it was sent in a totally different area of space. Space Command promised they would one day send another ship in the area of the fateful flights, but not for awhile. Searcher 3 finally returned from its 4 month mission. They charted several planets that could possibly sustain human life. There was alien life already on those planets but the air wasn't quite what it needed to be for humans. Still, outposts could be established and the correct amount of air supplied by mechanical means. Searcher 3 hadn't experienced any problems. It was considered a perfect mission. Even inspections and a few repairs went smoothly and quickly. It seemed too quick for Johanson. Space command required new mother officers to be off space flight for one year after the birth of a child. She was glad Camron got to spend time with their new child, but sad he'd be leaving again so soon. He lifted her spirits before his departure. He proposed, gave her a ring, and they set the date to be married when he returned. A month after he and Searcher 3 left, Searcher 4 was sent on its 4-month mission in another area of space. Searcher 3 didn't return at the designated time. Another month passed. Command wasn't too alarmed. Anything could have happened. They might have discovered something that needed more investigating. At the end of another month, they picked up a signal from a probe in space. Its code signature indicated it was from Searcher 3.