Heros

A story about how two girls learn to be great

Commander Chen-Smith of the Republic of Australia Airship Fleet was not a woman to be reasoned with, much less argued with. So when she summoned me to the bridge and told me that I was to be one of the squad being lowered to the surface the following day, I just saluted and said ‘Yes, Ma’m.’ Like my knees hadn’t suddenly turned to jelly and my mouth hadn’t gone dry as a biscuit.
It would have been understandable if I’d blurted ‘But, Ma’m, I’m only a Junior Midshipman! I’ve only been in the RAAF six months!’ But I didn’t. For those very reasons.
A tube burbled, and she turned away to answer it. I looked down through the plastiglass floor of the bridge. We were about a thousand feet above the Ballard Archipelago. The islands stretched northwards into the distance. Some were green, some black, some still burning. I couldn’t make out a pattern. There didn’t seem to be a front line. The attacks, it seemed, were random.
We assembled in the descent pod before dawn. Six of us humans plus three Assault Replicants who strapped in and switched themselves into Standby mode. Lieutenant Bax did the checks and then released the winch. We dropped away from the ship like a stone.
“You ready for this girl?” She said to me.
“Yes Ma'm” I replied.
“You don't need to be so formal. The Commander doesn't seem to want you to die, so you are one of the lucky ones, you are coming to the command post on Moth Island. God only knows why they called it that. All I know is that it is the largest island, and it is well behind our lines. I assume that you know how to fly a relay ship. Because that's what you will do, you will relay messages, specifically my messages to The Mother Ship.” I nodded. Relay planes were small, light and fast, I had taught myself to fly in one at the age of 10, before that I had watched my mother fly them, hiding in the tiny compartment for any emergency supplies.
“I have been able to fly an airship for almost as long as I can remember, and before I could fly I knew how to fly!” I said, it wasn't a brag, it was the truth. My mother had brought me up to respect the truth, and always tell the truth, even if it made be sound full of myself. I was asked more questions, and even though I wanted to ignore them I answered every question, bluntly, but truthfully, giving as short an answer as possible, until the lieutenant gave up. We landed with a crash, leaving a huge crater in the ground. We walked the three hundred meters to the shore were a small boat was waiting to take us to Moth Island. The boat skimmed gracefully across the water, normally it would be an honour to ride in a water ship, and a lot of fun, but it was war time. Luxuries are no longer luxurious when you are part of a war, they are simply something that has to be done. But even war could not dull the beauty of Moth Island, nor could war take the luxury of the tower and make it a necessity. Moth Island was the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen, I gasped despite myself.
“It's beautiful!” I said.
“It doesn't matter how many times I do this, it always takes my breath away. Not even war can take it's beauty from it!” The driver said. I nodded numbly. He smiled at me. “Have you ever been to the Archipelago before this war?” I shook my head, what I was seeing and what I was hearing (talk of war, and the blasts of war) seemed to be from two very different worlds. Lieutenant Bax laughed softly.
“She has talked to you more then any one else! And your just the driver!” He dipped his head.
“Sorry ma'm. I was out of order.” He said. She smiled gently,
“I don't really mind, just be careful, there are some who would mind!” She warned, and for the first time it dawned on me just how lucky I was to be messenger for Lieutenant Bax. The others were dropped off on one of the small islands, they all (excluding the assault replicants who felt nothing) looked at me with jealousy written all over their faces, they would be going to fly bombers, they would all be dead within a few weeks if lucky.

As we walked into the command centre young men and women ran towards us and all around us. ‘Like an ants nest!’ I decided. While Lieutenant Bax seemed to fit in perfectly I stuck out like a sore thumb in my R, double A,F uniform. It earned me many sideways glances and strange looks that day. But I ignored them, following the lieutenant with my helmet tucked under my arm. For most of that day I did nothing more then sit around, occasionally getting up and saluting important officials. The first time I actually ran a message for Lieutenant Bax was the next day.

“We're under direct attack!” A girl screamed, shaking me awake. I sat blot upright, already in my uniform. The girl looked shocked but handed me a note anyway, “Um… You're to take this to the mother ship as soon as you're ready. Bax said that you are to give it to the commander directly!” I nodded and ran out of the room. I didn't even know her name. Three days later I saw her face on one of the death announcements. She had been tortured so badly that it took them two weeks to properly identify her. I ran to the hanger and jumped into the airship with my personal insignia on it. Lieutenant Bax ran into the room.
“You're…” She faltered, “How can you be her?! Why have you been reserved for messages? You are The Violet Sky-Dolphin aren't you?” I nodded, shoving my helmet on.
“Who else would the Commander trust with personal messages?” I asked, she shrugged,
“But you're the best flier! Why waste you for messages? You should be destroying enemy bases!” She cried as a blast shook the building.
“Yes, I am the best flier, second only to one. The Commander herself! She doesn't fly, why should I?” I asked as I sealed the cabin and started the engines. At the same time three of the enemy soldiers broke in. They aimed a cannon at me, then saw my insignia, swallowed and took aim. But they were too late, I was out of the hanger and into the air. Unfortunately just before I made it to the mother ship my plane was hit, I hit the eject key and made it to the mother ship. But I was badly injured and losing blood fast. I had only a few minutes to live when I made it to the ship. One of the Junior Hanger Hands saw me land and ran over,
“What's your insignia, rank, number and name?” He asked.
“Violet Sky-Dolphin,” I began making him start, “Junior Midshipman, 007007007,” I gasped, “Ashlee…” I began, but a Senior Hanger Hand interrupted.
“No one is allowed to be called "Ashlee"! That name is forbidden! Only The Commander's daughter may have that name!” I nodded,
“That may be, but my name is Ashlee. Ashlee Chen-Smith. My mother is The Commander!” I replied with a sigh. He frowned, but the Hanger Hand In-charge ran over, seeing me her face paled. The ship began to move, “I have a message for my mother. I must give it to her personally!” I told her. She nodded as a communication tube warbled. A door opened and my mother walked in.
“Ashlee!” She said when she reached my side, in a rare show of emotion. “Get her a medi-drone now!” She snapped.
“But Commander, they're all busy!” A privet cried.
“My daughter is dying and there are no medi-drones available?!” She shouted sending the boy running. “Help will be here soon!” She promised, holding my hand tightly. I nodded and closed my eye to wait.

The next day I stood by my mother's side in the plastiglass bridge. We where flying home. Where we would live in private, perhaps flying airships for outback hospitals. We both loved flying, and now we will live in peace.



‘That is my Grandmother's account of the war. She may have come from a great family but she did her bit, even if she is ashamed of it now! She doesn't try to hide it! That's what makes her my hero!’ I said proudly, looking out at my class. It was Grandparents' day. My Great-Grandmother, the great Commander Chen-Smith, my Grandmother, the great Ashlee Chen-Smith, my Grandfather, the great Charlie Craken-Bolt (he is a Chen-Smith now to! Even though he fought against Australia), my mother and father where all standing, looking at me proudly. I looked over at my teacher, her eyes where shinning.
‘You come from a long line of very strong women Ashley!’ She said. I smiled and took my seat in the centre of the class.

Half-an-hour later, when class had finished for the day, I ran over and gave my Grandma a hug.
‘I'm proud of you Ashley!’ She said, ‘I am not proud of what I did, but I am glad that you see that!’ My grandma was only 54, 40 years older then me! My teacher came over to us. She was in a wheel-chair.
‘I met you once Ms Chen-Smith!’ She said, my Grandma, Great-Grandmother and mother looked at each other and laughed, my Great-Grandma was only 74 and never married!
‘Miss or Mrs?’ They asked at the same time.
‘Mrs!’ My teacher said,
‘Which one?’ Mum and Grandma asked in unison. Mrs Astar smiled,
‘Ashlee Chen-Smith!’ She said. ‘I woke you up. You gave me quiet a fright, already dressed like you where!’ My teacher was about 50, and my Grandma looked shocked and confused,
‘But how?!’ She asked, frowning. ‘You died! There was DNA proof!’ She cried,
‘No!’ Mrs Astar shook her head, ‘That was my identical twin sister! I was held hostage! No one ever payed for my release, so I was released at the end of the war. By them it was to late to change my status completely. Officially I'm alive, but sometimes I am still labeled as dead, on memorials and stuff I'm dead!’ My grandma had tears in her eyes,
‘I guess that's how you lost mobility of your legs then!’ Grandpa said, my teacher nodded,
‘But that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I just wanted to say that you are my hero too. You always have been. I survived the war by telling myself that I had to be strong like you, ready for anything. I knew I had to meet you again to say thank you for all you did!’ Grandma smiled sadly at her.
‘You did more for me then I did for you!’ Grandma said. My teacher smiled as she was called away.
‘I'm glad to meet you Mrs Chen-Smith, Miss Chen-Smith, Mrs Chen-Smith!’ She rolled away and Grandpa took Grandma's hand,
‘You shouldn't feel bad!’ He said, ‘Chances are I could have set her free before the war ended!’ My Grandfather was in charge of personnel and so had some say on which prisoners stayed and which ones where released. I waited for a second as my family walked on ahead,
‘Are you ok Ashley?’ The principal asked I glanced over at her,
‘My family are all famous. I have such big shoes to fill! I don't know if I can!’ I said to her, she smiled at me.
‘Ashley you may not end up a war hero, and let's hope you don't! but you can be more! You can change the opinions of a room full of people at age 14! Imagine what you can do when you're older!’ She said with a smile, ‘You can write stories that make the most hard hearted of people cry! Ashley you can fly planes as well as your Grandmother and Great-Grandmother! Your name will help you get the jobs you want! No one will say no to a Chen-Smith! Your family are heroes. Your name can only help you. Be proud of it, use it to your advantage, but never let it pull you down! Do what you want to!’ Jason, a boy in my class, walked over,
‘You ok Ash?’ He asked, I smiled,
‘I think so!’ I said to him. Two days later he kissed me for the first time.




I smile at my 10 year old daughter as she jumps into my Grandmother's airship which she has landed on the lawn, thinking about grandparents' day when I was 14. At 75 Ashlee is still very active and looks great for her age, I glance up at the sky and see my Grandfather's ship. My mother and father are both dead, they died after meeting my twins. It was a car accident leaving the hospital. It is quiet ironic. My Great-Grandmother is 95, and still going strong, after surviving the war. My Grandma and Grandpa are both fine, also having survived the war, but my parents make 45, not having lived through the war and died in a car accident. I hope that I live longer then my parents, and that I do more for my country then them to. Jason walks out of the house as my grandpa lands,
“Mr and Mrs Chen-Smith?!” Grandpa cries with a laugh, “So you did keep the family name! But you got married while we where away?!” He protests. My Grandparents have just gotten back from a charity flight to Africa. I hope that I can do as much good as they have done. After the war they felt so bad about what they had done that they established hundreds of charities and do charity work almost every day of the week. Another, newer airship lands on the lawn.
“Mrs Ashley Chen-Smith?!” The girl calls, my Grandma and I cannot help but ask
“Which one?!” We cry in unison. She cuts the motors.
“All three of you!” A man calls, jumping out of the c**k pit.
“Harold?!” My grandmother asks as my sister in-law (also named Ashleigh (we all have our names spelt differently, which is only helpful when our names are written down!)) pulls her helmet off and shakes her hair out. My brother pulls his helmet off as well, pushing his long red hair out of his face.
“Who else?” He asks,
“Attack of the rangas much?” Jason asks, we all laugh. Perchance we all have red hair. I smile. This is my family. The clever, smart, famous, fiery red headed flyers that are the Chen-Smiths.
“That may be,” Ashleigh says, “But we are all needed for a very important mission. We have to save the people of America from a bunch of rabid bears! If we don't they will all be electro-lighted!” She warns, naming the terrible new trend of using electrocuted lights to kill animals. We all nod and I power up an old assault replicant which I have reprogrammed to be a nanny.
“Look after Titania and Oberon!” I say before calling my children over, saying goodbye to them and taking off in my airship to save the world!