Clare Morrison sat in her childhood bedroom and stared at the data pad in her hands. She had read the message 11 times now, and each time the words hurt just as much as the first. Her father wasn’t coming. After everything he had promised, and all the plans they had made together, he wasn’t going to be there for her wedding.

Tears streamed down her face, and she didn’t bother to wipe them away anymore. The message was short and cold in its efficiency. Her father had always been better at giving orders than expressing emotions. He said he was sorry. He said there was a situation and people would die if he wasn’t there. He said he loved her.

But none of that changed the simple terrible fact that he was choosing duty over her. Again, just like he had chosen it over her mother, just like he had chosen it over every birthday and holiday and school event throughout her childhood. Peter Hamilton heard her crying from the hallway and came into the room.

He sat down beside her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her without saying anything. Peter was good like that. He knew when to talk and when to just be present. Clare leaned into him and sobbed against his chest. Her whole body shook with the force of her grief and anger and disappointment. After a while, she pulled back and looked at Peter through red, swollen eyes.

She told him that her father had promised. When her mother died 3 years ago, her father had looked her right in the eyes and made her a solemn promise. He had said that he would be there for her wedding day no matter what. that nothing would keep him away, that he owed it to Margaret to walk their daughter down the aisle.

And now he was breaking that promise like it meant nothing. Peter didn’t know what to say because there was nothing he could say that would make this better. He understood duty in his own way. He was a firefighter and he knew what it meant to put your life on the line for strangers. But this was different. This was Clare’s wedding day. This was supposed to be one of the most important days of her life.

and her father was choosing to be somewhere else. Clare’s best friend, Amy Chen, knocked on the door and came in carrying two cups of tea. Amy had been Clare’s friend since elementary school. She had been there through everything, including Margaret’s death and all the lonely nights when Jack was away on deployment. Amy had helped Clare plan every detail of this wedding for the past 8 months.

She knew how much it meant to Clare to have her father there. Amy sat down on the other side of Clare and handed her one of the cups. The tea was chamomile, which was Clare’s favorite when she was upset. Amy asked how Clare was holding up, and Clare let out a bitter laugh. She said she wasn’t holding up at all. She said part of her wanted to cancel the whole wedding.

If her father couldn’t be there, then what was the point? Amy’s face became firm, and she told Clare to listen carefully. She said the point was that Clare loved Peter and Peter loved her. The wedding was about them starting their life together. Clare’s father would want her to go forward. He would want her to be happy.

Amy was certain of that, even if Jack Morrison was terrible at showing it. Clare shook her head, and her voice was sharp with anger. She said her father should be there to tell her that himself. He should be there to walk her down the aisle and give her away and dance with her at the reception.

but instead he was halfway across the galaxy fighting aliens that she had never heard of and protecting people he had never met. Peter and Amy exchanged a look over Clare’s head. They both knew there was nothing they could say to fix this. Jack Morrison had made his choice and now Clare had to decide how she would respond.

Would she go forward with the wedding or would she let her father’s absence destroy this day she had been planning for months? The three of them sat in silence for a while. Outside the window, the sun was setting over Portland, and the sky was painted in shades of orange and pink. It was beautiful and peaceful and completely at odds with the turmoil in Clare’s heart.

She thought about her mother and what Margaret would say if she were here. Margaret had loved Jack despite his constant deployments. She had understood that he was doing important work even when it meant he was never home. But Margaret had also died waiting for Jack to come back from a mission, and Clare had never quite forgiven him for not being there when it happened. Clare finally spoke again, and her voice was quieter now.

She asked Amy and Peter what she should do. Should she cancel the wedding, or should she go through with it? Knowing that her father had chosen duty over her once again, Amy squeezed her hand and told her that only she could make that decision. But Amy thought she should go forward.

She thought Clare deserved to have her special day, even if it wasn’t exactly how she had imagined it. Peter agreed and added that he would support whatever Clare decided. If she wanted to postpone the wedding, he would understand. If she wanted to go forward, he would be honored to marry her. All he cared about was making her happy and being with her for the rest of his life.

Clare looked at both of them and felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. She was lucky to have people who loved her this much, people who would stand by her no matter what she decided. She thought about the 200 guests who had already made travel arrangements. She thought about the deposits they had paid and the plans they had made.

She thought about how much she loved Peter and how long she had waited to start their life together. She made her decision. She told them the wedding would go forward. Her father might not be there, but she wasn’t going to let his absence ruin everything.

She was going to marry Peter and she was going to be happy and maybe someday she would forgive her father, but that day wasn’t today. Amy hugged her tight and told her she was proud of her. Peter kissed her forehead and promised to make the day as perfect as he could. Clare nodded and wiped her eyes. She still felt angry and hurt and betrayed, but underneath all of that, she felt something else, too. She felt determined.

She would show her father that she didn’t need him. She would prove that she could be strong without him. Maybe that was petty, but right now it was what kept her going. The next week passed in a blur of final preparations. Clare threw herself into the details of the wedding with an almost manic energy. She confirmed the flowers and the catering and the music.

She did final fittings for her dress. She wrote her vows and rewrote them three times. She did everything she could to avoid thinking about the empty space where her father should be. Peter’s father, Richard, noticed how hard Clare was working to keep herself busy.

Richard Hamilton was a kind, gentle man who had welcomed Clare into his family with open arms. When he heard that Jack wouldn’t be able to attend the wedding, Richard had made Clare an offer. He said he would be honored to walk her down the aisle if she wanted. He knew he wasn’t her father and he wasn’t trying to replace Jack, but he wanted Clare to know she wasn’t alone.

Clare had cried when Richard made that offer, and she had accepted gratefully. Richard reminded her a little of her mother with his quiet kindness. She knew her father had never liked asking for help or accepting that he couldn’t do everything himself, but Clare was learning that sometimes you had to let people help you, and that didn’t make you weak. The battle began exactly when intelligence had predicted it would.

The Krath fleet emerged from hyperspace at the edge of the Tersia system in a swarm of biomechanical ships that pulsed with sickly green light. Jack Morrison stood on the bridge of the Valiant and watched the enemy vessels appear on his tactical display. 47 capital ships and 230 smaller attack craft.

The human fleet numbered 12 ships total. The odds were terrible, but they had faced worse before and survived. Jack’s voice was calm and steady as he gave orders to his crew. He told them to assume battle formation Delta 7. All weapons were to target the craft command vessels first.

If they could break the enemy’s coordination, they might have a chance to scatter the fleet and save the colony around him. His bridge crew moved with practiced efficiency. They had trained for this moment countless times, and now that it was here, they were ready. Lieutenant Karen Brooks sat at the weapons console and reported that all forward batteries were armed and ready to fire.

Commander Greg Phillips stood at the tactical station and confirmed that all ships in the battle group were in position. Engineering reported that the shields were at maximum strength and the engines were running at peak efficiency. The Valiant was as ready as she would ever be. The Craft fleet advanced slowly toward the colony world.

They moved in a formation that looked almost organic, like a school of fish swimming through water. Their ships were built from a combination of metal and living tissue that gave them an unsettling appearance. Humans had been fighting the Krath for 5 years now, but no one really understood how their technology worked.

All they knew was that the Krath were aggressive and territorial, and they seemed to view human expansion into space as a threat. Jack waited until the enemy fleet was in optimal firing range before giving the order to attack. The space between the two fleets suddenly erupted in light and fire. Particle beams lanced across the void. Missiles streaked through the darkness, trailing exhaust.

The distinctive blue glow of human plasma cannons painted the stars with deadly light. The valiant shuddered as enemy fire impacted her shields, but they held strong. The first craft command ship exploded in a brilliant green fireball that lit up the bridge displays. Jack allowed himself a moment of satisfaction before refocusing on the battle. One down and 46 to go.

Around him, his crew worked with intense concentration. Karen called out target coordinates. Greg monitored the positions of their other ships. The helmsman kept the Valiant moving in evasive patterns to avoid the worst of the enemy fire. Two hours into the battle, the UES defender took a direct hit to her engine core.

Greg reported that the ship was venting atmosphere and her shields were failing. Jack immediately ordered the defender to fall back and told the UEES Guardian to move in and provide covering fire. War was about making terrible choices and Jack had made thousands of them over his career. Every ship he lost meant hundreds of crew members dead.

But if he didn’t hold the line, thousands more colonists would die. The battle raged on hour after hour. The craft kept coming in waves trying to break through the human defensive line. Jack’s fleet held firm, but the cost was mounting. The UES Liberty exploded when a craft suicide craft rammed her port side.

The UES Freedom lost all power and went dark, floating dead in space. The crew of the Valiant watched helplessly as craft fighters swarmed the disabled ship and tore it apart. Jack felt each loss like a knife to his heart, but he couldn’t let himself dwell on it. He had to focus on the bigger picture. They had destroyed 23 Craft capital ships now and over a hundred of their smaller craft.

The enemy fleet was breaking apart. Their coordination was failing. If the humans could just hold on a little longer, the craft might retreat. 5 hours into the battle, Jack’s prediction came true. The remaining craft ships suddenly broke formation and scattered.

Some fled back toward hyperspace while others tried to swing around and attack from a different angle, but they were no longer fighting as a unified force, and that made them vulnerable. Jack ordered his ships to pursue and destroy as many as they could before they could escape. The Valiant’s guns never stopped firing. Karen worked her console with fierce determination, calling out targets and tracking hits.

The ship’s AI calculated firing solutions faster than any human could, and the plasma cannons found their marks again and again. Green explosions blossomed across the void as craft ships died. Finally, after 7 hours of continuous combat, the last of the craft vessels jumped to hyperspace and fled. The battle was over.

The colony was safe. Jack stood on his bridge and looked at the tactical display showing the debris field that stretched for thousands of kilome. Three human ships destroyed, two more so badly damaged they would need months of repairs, hundreds of crew members dead, but 40,000 colonists were alive. Greg walked over to stand beside Jack and they both stared at the display in silence.

After a moment, Greg spoke quietly so only Jack could hear. He told Jack that he had saved 40,000 lives today. Jack nodded but felt no joy. He looked at the chronometer on the wall and his heart sank. The battle had taken 7 hours. Clare’s wedding had been 4 hours ago. He had missed it.

While he was here fighting and bleeding and dying, his daughter had walked down the aisle without him. Jack turned away from the display and walked to his command chair. He sat down heavily and put his head in his hands. The adrenaline of battle was wearing off now, and exhaustion was setting in. But worse than the physical tiredness was the emotional weight of what he had done.

He had saved 40,000 strangers and lost the one person who mattered most. Greg sat down in the chair next to him and waited. He knew Jack needed to process this in his own time. After several minutes, Jack spoke and his voice was rough with emotion. He said he knew he had done the right thing.

He knew those 40,000 people deserve to live, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. He had broken his promise to Clare and she would never forgive him for it. Greg was quiet for a moment before responding. He told Jack that maybe Clare would forgive him eventually. People understood sacrifice even when it hurt. She would see the news reports about the battle.

She would learn how many lives her father had saved. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but someday she would understand why he had to make the choice he did. Jack wanted to believe that, but he couldn’t. He had been making these choices Clare’s whole life. Choosing duty over family, choosing the mission over his daughter.

Margaret had understood because she had been a military wife and she knew what she was signing up for. But Clare had never chosen this life. She had been born into it and she had spent her whole childhood watching her father disappear again and again. The bridge crew began securing from battle stations and starting damage control procedures. Medical teams were treating the wounded.

Engineering was assessing what repairs the ship could make on her own and what would require a return to port. Life went on because it had to. But Jack felt frozen in place, unable to move past this moment. Lieutenant Brooks approached his chair carefully and reported that they had received a priority, a transmission from Earth.

Fleet Command was commending them on their victory and ordering them to maintain position in the Tersia system until reinforcements arrived. Jack acknowledged the order mechanically and dismissed her. He didn’t care about commendations or orders right now. All he could think about was Clare. Greg stood up and put a hand on Jack’s shoulder. He told Jack to get some rest.

The Valiant wasn’t going anywhere for at least a week while they made repairs and waited for the relief fleet. There was nothing more Jack could do right now. Jack nodded and stood up. He told Greg he had the bridge and then walked toward his quarters. Alone in his cabin, Jack pulled up the communication logs and found the message he had sent Clare.

He read it again and winced at how cold and formal it sounded. He started to compose a new message, trying to explain himself better, but every word felt inadequate. How could he make her understand that he had been torn apart by this choice? That missing her wedding was the hardest thing he had ever done. That he loved her more than his own life, but he couldn’t let thousands of people die.

Jack deleted the draft and closed the communication panel. Words wouldn’t fix this. Nothing would fix this. He had made his choice, and now he would live with the consequences. He lay down on his bunk, still in his uniform, and stared at the ceiling.

Tomorrow he would have to write casualty reports and coordinate repairs and deal with all the aftermath of battle. But tonight, he allowed himself to grieve for what he had lost. Clare stood in the bride’s room at the chapel and looked at herself in the fulllength mirror. The dress was exactly what she had dreamed of. White silk with delicate lace details that Margaret would have loved.

Her makeup was perfect despite all the crying she had done over the past week. Her hair was styled in soft curls with small white flowers woven through it. She looked like a bride. She looked beautiful, but all she could see was the empty space beside her where her father should have been. Amy finished adjusting the veil and stepped back to admire her work.

She told Clare she looked absolutely stunning. Peter was going to cry when he saw her walking down the aisle. Clare managed a small smile and thanked her friend. Amy had been working non-stop for the past week to make sure everything was perfect. She had dealt with lastminute problems and soothed Clare’s nerves and never once complained.

Clare didn’t know what she would do without her. There was a soft knock on the door and Richard Hamilton entered the room. Peter’s father was dressed in a well-tailored suit and he carried himself with quiet dignity. He stopped when he saw Clare and his eyes got a little misty. He told her she looked just like her mother.

Clare had seen pictures of Margaret on her wedding day, and she knew Richard was right. She and her mother had the same smile and the same eyes and the same way of holding themselves. Richard cleared his throat and spoke carefully. He told Clare that he knew he wasn’t her father and he would never try to replace Jack, but he wanted her to know that he would be honored to walk her down the aisle if she would have him.

He understood this wasn’t how she had planned things, but he hoped she knew how much she meant to him and how proud he was to welcome her into his family fresh. Tears welled up in Clare’s eyes, but this time they were tears of gratitude rather than grief. She crossed the room and hugged Richard tightly. She told him, “Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for caring.

Thank you for stepping in when her own father couldn’t be bothered to show up.” Richard hugged her back and told her it was his privilege. Amy handed Clare her bouquet and did a final check to make sure everything was in place. The flowers were white roses mixed with baby’s breath, just like Margaret had carried at her own wedding. Clare held them carefully and took a deep breath. In a few minutes, she would walk down that aisle.

Her life would change forever. She would become Peter’s wife and start a new chapter. She just wished her father could be there to see it. Out in the chapel, the guests were all seated and waiting. 200 people had come from all over the country to celebrate with Clare and Peter, friends and family and colleagues who wanted to witness this moment.

The absence of Colonel Jack Morrison had been noted by everyone. People whispered about it in hushed voices. Some understood that military duty sometimes demanded sacrifice. Others thought it was shameful that a father would miss his only daughter’s wedding. Clare tried not to think about what people were saying. The music started and that was Clare’s cue.

Amy gave her one last hug and then hurried out to take her place as maid of honor. Richard offered Clare his arm and she took it gratefully. Her hand was shaking a little, but Richard’s steady presence helped calm her nerves. They walked to the entrance of the chapel and waited for their moment. The doors opened and everyone stood up.

Clare could see all the faces turning to look at her. She could see Peter standing at the altar looking handsome in his dress uniform. He was a firefighter and he had chosen to wear his formal uniform rather than a tuxedo. Clare loved that about him. He was proud of who he was and what he did, just like her father had always been proud of his service.

Clare and Richard began the long walk down the aisle. Each step felt surreal, like she was watching herself from outside her body. She smiled at the guests as she passed them. She saw old friends from school and relatives she hadn’t seen in years. She saw Peter’s mother dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

Everything was perfect except for the one person who should have been there and wasn’t. When they reached the altar, Richard kissed Clare’s cheek and placed her hand in Peter’s. Peter squeezed her fingers gently and smiled at her with so much love that Clare felt her heart might burst. The pastor welcomed everyone and began the ceremony. He spoke about love and commitment and the sacred bond of marriage.

He talked about building a life together through good times and bad times. Clare tried to focus on the pastor’s words, but her mind kept wandering. She thought about all the times her father had promised to be there for important moments and then broken those promises. School plays and graduations and birthdays. He was always somewhere else saving the world.

She had learned to stop counting on him. But somehow she had convinced herself this time would be different. This time he would keep his promise. She had been wrong. Peter noticed she was distracted and squeezed her hand again to bring her back to the moment. She looked up at him and saw understanding in his eyes. He knew where her mind had gone.

He knew she was thinking about her father, but he didn’t look angry or hurt. He just looked like he wanted to take away her pain, and that made Clare love him even more. The pastor asked if anyone knew any reason why Clare and Peter should not be married. This was the traditional moment where someone could object.

Clare had always thought it was a silly, outdated custom. No one ever actually objected at weddings anymore. The chapel was silent, and the pastor prepared to move on to the next part of the ceremony. Then the doors at the back of the chapel burst open with a loud crash. Clare spun around so fast she nearly dropped her bouquet. Her heart stopped in her chest. There in the doorway stood her father.

Colonel Jack Morrison was wearing his dress uniform with all his medals and ribbons. His face was haggarded and exhausted like he hadn’t slept in days. His eyes were bloodshot and his hair was disheveled. But he was there. He was actually there. Behind Jack stood at least a hundred other people in military uniforms.

Clare recognized Commander Greg Phillips and several other officers from her father’s ship. There were enlisted crew members and medical staff and engineers. All of them in their dress uniforms. All of them standing at attention. all of them looking at her with expressions of respect and pride. The chapel erupted in gasps and murmurss.

Guests turned in their seats to stare at the unexpected arrivals. Amy’s mouth fell open in shock. Peter just smiled like he had been hoping for exactly this to happen. The pastor looked completely bewildered and seemed to have forgotten what he was supposed to say next. Jack walked forward slowly down the center aisle.

His eyes were locked on Clare and she could see tears streaming down his face. He reached the front of the chapel and turned to address the pastor. His voice was rough with emotion as he apologized for the interruption. He said he had been detained by circumstances beyond his control. But he was here now if his daughter would still have him. Clare couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move.

She could only stare at her father in complete disbelief. This couldn’t be happening. He was supposed to be halfway across the galaxy. He was supposed to be fighting aliens and saving colonies. He wasn’t supposed to be here, but he was. He was really here. Peter gently nudged her, and that broke the spell.

Clare realized everyone was waiting for her to respond. She looked at her father and saw the hope and fear in his eyes. He was terrified she would send him away, that she would tell him it was too late, that his broken promise couldn’t be forgiven. Clare felt all the anger and hurt and betrayal she had been carrying for the past week rise up inside her.

Part of her wanted to scream at him. Part of her wanted to tell him to leave. He had made his choice. He had chosen duty over her again. Why should she forgive him just because he changed his mind at the last minute? But then she looked at the hundred uniformed men and women standing at the back of the chapel. She looked at the exhaustion on her father’s face.

She realized what it must have taken for him to get here, what he must have sacrificed, what his crew must have sacrificed to make this happen. And suddenly all her anger drained away. Clare nodded because she still couldn’t find her voice. Jack’s face crumpled with relief and more tears spilled down his cheeks.

The pastor recovered his composure and smiled broadly. He asked, “Who gives this woman to be married?” Jack’s voice rang out strong and clear as he said he did. Her mother and him together. Then Jack did something that made Clare finally break down completely. He turned to her and took both her hands in his. He told her he was so sorry.

He had wanted to be there from the start, but he was here now and he would never miss another important moment in her life. He promised her that. Clare threw her arms around her father’s neck and sobbed into his shoulder. She didn’t care that she was ruining her makeup or that 200 people were watching. Her father was here. That was all that mattered. Jack held his daughter while she cried and felt his own tears mixing with hers. He had crossed half the galaxy to get here.

He had pushed himself and his crew beyond all reasonable limits. He had called in every favor he had ever earned and broken at least a dozen regulations. But standing here with Clare in his arms, he knew it had all been worth it. Every single exhausting moment had been worth it to see the look on her face when he walked through those doors.

Clare finally pulled back and looked up at him. Her makeup was smeared and her face was blotchy from crying, but she was smiling. really truly smiling in a way he hadn’t seen in years. She asked him how he was here. He was supposed to be at Ters. He was supposed to be fighting the Krath.

How had he made it back to Earth in time? Jack wiped the tears from her face gently and told her they had won the battle yesterday. The Krath fleet had been defeated and the colony was safe. The moment the last enemy ship jumped to hyperspace, he had started making arrangements. He told his crew he had to get to Earth for his daughter’s wedding.

Every single member of his senior staff had volunteered to come with him. They had commandeered a fast courier ship and pushed it to dangerous speeds. They had traveled for 20 hours straight without rest. They had arrived in Earth orbit an hour ago and taken shuttles down to Portland. Clare looked past her father to the assembled crew members standing at attention at the back of the chapel.

She asked if they had all come with him. Jack nodded and turned to gesture at his people. He told her these were the finest men and women in the fleet. When he said he needed to be here for his daughter, they had all stepped up without hesitation. They had risked their careers and potentially their lives to make this happen. He was proud to serve with them.

Commander Greg Phillips spoke up from the back of the chapel. His voice was warm with humor as he said they wouldn’t have missed this for anything. Any commander who would cross the galaxy for his daughter’s wedding was worth following anywhere. The other crew members murmured their agreement and several of them smiled.

The pastor cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. He suggested that perhaps they should start the ceremony over from the beginning. Clare deserved to have her father walk her down the aisle properly. Clare looked at Peter to see if he minded, and Peter just grinned. He told her they had nothing but time.

They could start over as many times as she wanted. Clare and Jack walked back to the entrance of the chapel while the guests rearranged themselves and the musicians prepared to play the processional again. The valiant crew found seats in the back pews making room for each other with the easy camaraderie of people who had faced death together. Their dress uniforms added an unexpected formality to the proceedings that somehow felt right.

Amy rushed over to fix Clare’s makeup and adjust her veil again. She was laughing and crying at the same time. She told Clare she couldn’t believe this was happening. It was like something out of a movie. Clare hugged her friend and agreed.

20 minutes ago, she had been walking down the aisle without her father feeling like her heart was breaking. Now he was here and everything felt right again. Jack stood beside his daughter and offered her his arm. He asked if she was sure about this. They had already kept the guests waiting and made a scene. If she wanted to just continue from where they had stopped, he would understand. Clare shook her head firmly. She told him she had dreamed about this moment her whole life.

Her father walking her down the aisle just like her mother had always wanted. She wasn’t going to settle for anything less than the full experience. The music began again and Jack felt his chest swell with pride. He looked down at his daughter and couldn’t believe how grown up she was.

When had she stopped being the little girl who used to sit on his lap and listen to his stories about the stars? When had she become this beautiful, confident woman who was about to start her own family? The years had slipped away while he was off fighting wars, and now here they were. They began walking down the aisle together, and this time everything felt different.

This time, Clare’s heart was whole. Every step felt meaningful and right. She could feel the pride radiating from her father. She could see Peter waiting for her at the altar with love shining in his eyes. This was how it was supposed to be. This was the moment she had been waiting for. When they reached the altar, Jack lifted Clare’s veil and kissed her forehead.

Then he turned to Peter and his expression became serious. He told Peter to take care of her. She was the most important thing in his universe. Peter met Jack’s eyes steadily and promised he would. He gave Jack his word as a man and as a firefighter that he would love and protect Clare for the rest of his life.

Jack seemed satisfied with that answer. He placed Clare’s hand in Peter’s and then stepped back to sit in the front pew. Richard Hamilton had moved over to make room and he shook Jack’s hand warmly. Richard told Jack he was glad he made it. Jack thanked him for stepping in and being there for Clare when he couldn’t be.

The two fathers sat together and watched their children prepare to join their lives. The pastor began the ceremony again from the beginning. His voice was full of warmth and joy as he welcomed everyone and spoke about the sacred bond of marriage. This time Clare hung on every word. This time she was fully present in the moment. Her father was here.

Peter was here. All the people they loved were here. Everything was exactly as it should be. When it came time for the vows, Peter spoke first. He promised to love Clare through good times and bad. He promised to support her dreams and stand by her side no matter what challenges they faced. He promised to be the partner she deserved and to build a life with her that honored both their families.

His voice shook a little with emotion, but his words were clear and heartfelt. Then it was Clare’s turn. She looked into Peter’s eyes and spoke from her heart. She promised to love him with everything she had. She promised to be his shelter in the storm and his companion on the journey.

She promised to choose him everyday for the rest of her life. She promised to build a family with him that would make their parents proud. By the time she finished, both of them had tears in their eyes. The pastor smiled and continued with the traditional ceremony. He asked if anyone knew of any reason why these two should not be married.

This time, the chapel remained silent except for a few chuckles at the memory of Jack’s dramatic entrance. The pastor pronounced Peter and Clare husband and wife and told Peter he could kiss his bride. Peter pulled Clare close and kissed her gently. The chapel erupted in applause and cheers. The valiant crew stood up as one and saluted in perfect unison.

It was a military show of respect that brought fresh tears to Clare’s eyes. She had spent so much of her life resenting the military for taking her father away. But now these soldiers had given her the greatest gift. They had brought him home. Jack stood and applauded along with everyone else. His heart felt fuller than it had in years.

He had made it against all odds and despite every obstacle, he had made it to his daughter’s wedding. He had kept his promise, not in the way he had originally planned. But in the end, that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he was here. He was present for this moment that would define Clare’s life. Peter and Clare walked back down the aisle together as husband and wife.

They stopped when they reached Jack and Clare hugged her father one more time. She whispered, “Thank you in his ear. Thank you for coming. Thank you for being here. Thank you for crossing the galaxy for her.” Jack held her tight and told her he would do it again a thousand times. She was his daughter and he loved her more than life itself.

The guests filed out of the chapel and headed to the garden where the reception would be held. The Valiant’s crew mingled with Clare and Peter’s friends and family. Stories were traded about the battle at Terteus and the desperate journey back to Earth.

People who had never thought much about the military found themselves listening in awe to tales of sacrifice and courage. Greg found Jack standing alone near the chapel entrance watching the celebration unfold. He came over and stood beside his friend in comfortable silence. After a moment, Greg spoke quietly. He told Jack that he had done good. Not just the battle, although that had been impressive, but this getting here for Clare, that took a different kind of courage. Jack nodded and admitted he had been terrified she wouldn’t forgive him.

Greg smiled and said that was what made it brave. The reception was held in a beautiful garden behind the chapel. String lights hung overhead, creating a soft glow as evening approached. Round tables were scattered across the lawn covered in white linens and centerpieces of roses and baby’s breath.

A small dance floor had been set up near the DJ booth, and a long table held the wedding cake and gifts. Everything looked magical, and Clare felt like she was floating through a dream. The unexpected addition of a 100 military guests had required some quick reorganization, but no one seemed to mind.

Extra tables were brought out and the catering staff scrambled to prepare more food. If anything, the soldiers presence added to the celebration. Their dress uniforms and formal bearing created an atmosphere of dignity that elevated the entire event. Jack found himself surrounded almost immediately by well-wishers. People wanted to thank him for his service and ask about the battle that had kept him away.

Old friends of Margaret’s hugged him and told him how proud she would have been. relatives he hadn’t seen in years shook his hand and congratulated him on Clare’s marriage. He accepted it all with grace, but deflected most questions about the battle. This was Clare’s day, and he didn’t want talk of war to overshadow her happiness. Amy found Jack near the bar and pulled him aside.

She told him she needed to say something. For the past week, she had been angry at him. She had watched Clare cry herself to sleep every night. She had seen the pain in her best friend’s eyes. Amy had thought Jack was selfish and cruel for breaking his promise, but now she understood.

The news reports about the Battle of Terte had been all over the media. 40,000 people saved. Three ships lost, but the colony survived. Amy realized that Jack had been making an impossible choice, and he had chosen to save lives. Jack listened to Amy’s words and felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He told her he appreciated that more than she knew. He had been carrying the guilt of breaking his promise like a physical burden.

Knowing that people understood why he had to make that choice helped ease some of that pain. Amy hugged him quickly and then went off to check on the catering. Peter’s father, Richard, approached Jack with two glasses of champagne. He offered one to Jack and they stood together watching the festivities. Richard said he was glad Jack had made it.

He had been honored to step in and walk Clare down the aisle, but he knew it wasn’t the same as having her real father there. Jack thanked Richard sincerely for being there when he couldn’t be. He was grateful that Clare had people who loved her enough to fill in the gaps he left.

Greg appeared at Jack’s elbow and told him there was someone he needed to talk to. He led Jack to a quiet corner of the garden where a distinguished older man in a naval uniform waited. Jack recognized Admiral Henry Carter immediately. Carter was the commander of the entire Outer Reach defense fleet and technically Jack’s superior officer. Jack felt his stomach drop.

He had known there would be consequences for what he had done, but he hadn’t expected to face them quite so soon. Admiral Carter smiled and extended his hand. He told Jack to relax. He wasn’t here to reprimand anyone. Carter said he had received Greg’s report about the unauthorized use of a military courier ship and the unsanctioned trip to Earth. Under normal circumstances, that would be grounds for a court marshal.

But these weren’t normal circumstances. Carter told Jack that any officer who could win the Battle of Ters and still make it to his daughter’s wedding had earned whatever he wanted. Jack stared at the admiral in disbelief. Carter continued and said he was ordering Jack to take 2 weeks of leave effective immediately.

That wasn’t a request or a suggestion. It was a direct order. Jack needed time with his daughter and his new son-in-law. The Valiant would be in port for repairs anyway, so there was no reason for Jack to rush back. Carter said he had three daughters of his own, and he understood what it meant to balance duty and family.

Relief washed over Jack so powerfully, he felt his knees go weak. He thanked the admiral profusely. Carter waved off the thanks and told Jack to enjoy the reception. Then the admiral went to join the other guests, leaving Jack standing there trying to process what had just happened.

He had two weeks, two whole weeks to spend with Clare and make up for lost time. Greg clapped Jack on the shoulder and grinned. He told Jack he had sent the report to Admiral Carter, knowing the man would understand. Greg said some rules were meant to be broken when the stakes were high enough. Jack laughed and felt lighter than he had in years. His crew had his back. His commanding officer understood, and most importantly, his daughter had forgiven him.

The dinner was served and everyone took their seats at the tables. Jack sat at the main table with Clare and Peter and their immediate family. The food was excellent and the conversation flowed easily. Clare kept reaching over to squeeze Jack’s hand as if she needed to reassure herself he was really there.

Each time she did, Jack squeezed back and smiled at her. Peter’s best friend stood up to give a toast. He told funny stories about Peter’s college days that made everyone laugh. Amy went next with stories about Clare and the drama of planning the wedding. Then it was Jack’s turn. He stood slowly and picked up his champagne glass.

The garden fell silent as everyone waited to hear what he would say. Jack looked around at all the faces watching him. His crew, his family, his daughter’s friends, strangers who had come to celebrate love. He cleared his throat and began to speak. He said he wasn’t great with words unless he was giving orders.

That got a few chuckles, but he wanted to say something about duty and love because he had learned they weren’t as different as he once thought. He told them he had spent 30 years serving humanity, defending colonies, protecting people he had never met. He had believed that duty meant sacrifice, that serving the greater good meant giving up the things that mattered most, and he had almost sacrificed the most important moment of his daughter’s life for that duty. The garden was completely silent now.

Everyone hung on his words. Jack continued and said his crew had taught him something important. When he told them he had to be here, every single one of them had volunteered to help make it happen. They had pushed their ship beyond safe limits. They had risked their careers and their lives. And when he asked them why, they said something he would never forget.

They said any man who would cross the galaxy for his daughter was worth following anywhere. Jack paused to let that sink in. He told them his crew had shown him that love and duty weren’t opposites. They were the same thing.

Because protecting the people we love, whether it’s one person or 40,000 people, is what duty really means. Service isn’t about choosing between family and strangers. It’s about understanding that we’re all connected, that every life matters, that sometimes the greatest act of duty is showing up for the people we love. He raised his glass and looked directly at Clare.

He said this toast was for her and Peter. May their marriage be built on both love and duty. May they always put each other first, but never forget that sometimes love means sacrifice. And may they always have people around them who understand that the greatest duty we have is to the people we love. To Clare and Peter, he said, and everyone echoed the toast.

Clare was crying again, but these were happy tears. She stood up and crossed to her father. She hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear that she loved him, that she was proud of him, that she understood why he had to go to Ters. Jack held his daughter and felt his own tears falling. He told her he loved her too, more than anything in the universe.

The DJ started playing music and couples began moving to the dance floor. Peter came over and asked Clare if she was ready for their first dance as husband and wife. Clare nodded and took his hand. They moved to the center of the floor and began swaying to a slow romantic song. Everyone watched and smiled.

This was what weddings were about. This moment of pure joy and love. After the first dance, the DJ invited others to join. Jack approached Clare and asked if he could have the father-daughter dance. Clare’s face lit up and she practically pulled him onto the floor. The DJ played the song Clare had chosen months ago.

It was one of Margaret’s favorites, and hearing it made Jack’s heart ache with missing his wife. Jack and Clare danced together, and he realized this was the first time he had danced with his daughter since she was a little girl. She had grown up so much. She was a woman now, a wife. Someday she would be a mother.

Time had moved so quickly, and he had missed so much of it. But he was here now. That had to count for something. Clare seemed to read his thoughts. She told him she knew he had always done his best. She knew the sacrifices he made weren’t easy. She had been angry for a long time about all the moments he missed.

But seeing him walk through those chapel doors had shown her something. It showed her that when it really mattered, he would move heaven and earth to be there. That was enough. That was more than enough. The evening continued with laughter and dancing and celebration. The Valiant’s crew mingled with the other guests and shared stories of their adventures in space.

Children gathered around Lieutenant Karen Brooks as she described what it was like to pilot a starship through a battle. Young adults peppered Greg with questions about life in the military. The gap between civilian and military life seemed to shrink as people found common ground in their shared humanity.

Jack watched it all from the edge of the dance floor and felt a deep sense of contentment. For 30 years, he had kept these two parts of his life separate. His military service and his family had existed in different worlds that rarely intersected. But tonight, they had come together in a way he had never imagined possible. His crew had become part of Clare’s celebration.

His duty and his love had merged into something beautiful. Peter came over and asked if he could speak with Jack privately. They walked to a quiet corner of the garden, away from the music and noise. Peter seemed nervous and Jack wondered what the young man wanted to say. Peter took a breath and told Jack he wanted him to know something.

He said he understood what it meant to choose duty over personal comfort. As a firefighter, Peter ran into burning buildings while everyone else ran out. He missed holidays and birthdays and important events because emergencies didn’t care about the calendar. Peter said he knew that marrying Clare meant accepting that sometimes duty would come first.

He had watched his own father struggle with that balance as a teacher who often stayed late to help struggling students. Peter told Jack he wasn’t angry about the missed wedding. He understood and he wanted Jack to know that he would take care of Clare and support her through the times when Jack had to be away because that’s what family did.

They supported each other through the hard choices. Jack felt emotion tighten his throat. He shook Peter’s hand and pulled him into a brief hug. He told Peter that he couldn’t have asked for a better man to marry his daughter. Peter reminded him of Margaret in many ways.

The same quiet strength and understanding, the same ability to see past the surface to what really mattered. Jack said he was proud to call Peter his son. They returned to the party and found Clare talking with Admiral Carter. The admiral was regailing her with stories about her father’s early career. Clare laughed at a story about a young Lieutenant Morrison who had accidentally locked himself in an airlock during a training exercise. Jack groaned and told the admiral that story was supposed to be classified.

Carter just grinned and said some stories were too good to keep secret. As the night wore on, people began to drift away. Older guests said their goodbyes and headed home. Parents collected tired children. The Valiant crew began making their way back to their hotel. Greg found Jack and told him the crew would be heading back to the ship tomorrow afternoon.

That gave Jack time to say proper goodbyes and thank everyone for what they had done. Jack gathered his crew together near the garden entrance. About 60 of them remained, including all of his senior staff. He looked at their faces and felt overwhelming gratitude. These people had risked everything to help him get here.

They had broken regulations and pushed themselves to the limit. All because they believed in him and wanted to help him keep his promise to his daughter. Jack told them he didn’t have words adequate to express his thanks. What they had done went beyond duty. It went beyond loyalty. They had shown him the true meaning of family.

Not just blood relations, but the bonds forged through shared struggle and mutual respect. He was honored to serve with them. He was proud to call them his crew, and he would never forget what they had done for him and for Clare. Karen Brookke spoke up and said they would do it again in a heartbeat. The rest of the crew murmured agreement. Greg added that they were just glad everything worked out.

They had been worried the whole trip that they wouldn’t make it in time. When they saw the chapel door still open and heard the ceremony in progress, they knew they had pulled off the impossible. One of the younger crew members asked Jack what he was going to do with his two weeks of leave.

Jack smiled and said he was going to spend time with his daughter and son-in-law. He was going to be present and available. He was going to make up for some of the moments he had missed over the years. The crew nodded approvingly and began saying their goodbyes. After the crew left, only close family remained. Clare and Peter sat at one of the tables, looking exhausted, but happy.

Amy was helping the catering staff clean up. Richard and his wife were gathering up gifts and cards. Jack sat down next to Clare and Peter and just enjoyed being there with them. Clare leaned her head on Jack’s shoulder and sighed contentedly. She said this had been the most perfect day of her life.

Not perfect in the way she had originally planned, but perfect in a better way. She had learned something important. Life didn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes the unexpected things turned out to be the most meaningful. She had wanted her father to walk her down the aisle, and he had. The fact that it happened twice just made it more memorable.

Peter agreed and added that he would never forget the sight of Jack and his crew standing in that doorway. It was like something out of a movie. The dramatic entrance, the military precision, the visible exhaustion on everyone’s faces, showing just how hard they had worked to get there. Peter said it showed him what kind of man Jack was.

Not just a military officer, but a father who would cross the galaxy for his daughter. Jack felt his eyes getting misty again. He told them both he was sorry for all the years he had put duty first. He had missed so much of Clare’s childhood. So many school plays and soccer games and parent teacher conferences.

He couldn’t get those moments back, but he could try to do better going forward. He promised to be more present to make family a priority to find better balance between serving humanity and being there for the people he loved most. Clare sat up and looked at her father seriously. She told him she didn’t want him to promise something he couldn’t keep. She understood his work was important.

She understood that sometimes he would have to choose duty. What mattered was that when the truly important moments came, he would do everything in his power to be there like he had today. That was enough. She didn’t need him to be perfect. She just needed to know he cared enough to try.

Jack hugged his daughter and told her he did care more than she would ever know. She was the best thing he and Margaret had ever created. Watching her grow into the amazing woman she had become was his greatest accomplishment, greater than any battle he had won or any medal he had earned. Being her father was the honor of his lifetime.

The three of them sat together in comfortable silence as the last of the guests departed and the garden grew quiet. The string lights overhead twinkled like stars. Somewhere in the distance, nightbirds were singing. The air smelled of roses and fresh cut grass. It was peaceful and perfect and Jack wanted to hold on to this moment forever. Eventually, they had to leave.

The chapel staff needed to close up and everyone was exhausted. Clare and Peter were staying at a hotel near the airport before leaving for their honeymoon in Hawaii tomorrow. Jack walked them to Peter’s car and hugged them both goodbye. He told Clare to call him when they got to Hawaii. He wanted to hear all about their trip. Clare promised she would and kissed his cheek.

As Peter drove away with Clare waving from the passenger window, Jack felt both sadness and joy. Sadness that his little girl was grown and starting her own life. Joy that she had found such a good partner and that their relationship had healed. He stood in the parking lot watching the tail lights disappear and thought about Margaret.

He wished she could have been here to see this. She would have been so proud of Clare, so proud of the woman their daughter had become. Jack, pulled out his communicator and sent a message to Greg. He thanked him again for everything and told him to make sure the crew knew how much their sacrifice meant.

Greg responded almost immediately, saying it was their pleasure, and Jack should stop worrying about work and enjoy his leave. Jack smiled and put the communicator away. He had two weeks. Two whole weeks to be just a father instead of a colonel. Two weeks to rebuild his relationship with Clare and get to know Peter better.

Two weeks to figure out how to balance the different parts of his life. He walked back to his rental car and sat in the driver’s seat for a moment. Tomorrow, he would sleep late and have breakfast at a real restaurant instead of a ship’s messaul. He would read a book or watch the news or just sit in the sun. He would call Clare and hear about her honeymoon.

He would be present and available and normal. For 2 weeks, he would remember what it felt like to be human instead of a soldier, and then he would return to the Valiant and his duty. But he would carry this day with him. The memory of Clare’s smile when he walked through those chapel doors. The sound of her laughter during their dance.

The feeling of her head on his shoulder as they sat together in the garden. Those memories would sustain him through whatever battles lay ahead. Colonel Jack Morrison sat alone in his quarters aboard the UES Valiant and stared at the small holographic image floating above his desk.

The image showed his daughter Clare standing in a white dress at a bridal shop and smiling at the camera. She had sent this image 3 months ago when she first found her wedding dress. Jack had watched this recording at least 50 times since then, and each time it made his chest ache with both pride and guilt. He was supposed to walk her down the aisle in 2 weeks. He had promised her.

He had promised his late wife Margaret before she died that he would be there for Clare no matter what. But now everything had changed. The door chime sounded and Jack closed the hologram quickly. He knew who it was.

Commander Greg Phillips had been his second in command for 15 years, and the man could read him better than anyone else in the fleet. Jack called out for him to enter, and Greg walked in carrying two cups of coffee. The older man set one cup in front of Jack and took the seat across from him without waiting for an invitation. That was how things worked between them after so many years of service together.

Greg looked at Jack for a long moment before speaking. The man’s weathered face showed concern and understanding in equal measure. He had been there when Margaret died 5 years ago. He had watched Jack struggle to balance his duty to the fleet with his duty to his daughter. Greg knew exactly what was tearing Jack apart right now.

The intelligence reports had come in 6 hours ago and they were bad. The craft were massing their fleet near the Ters system. Terteus was a human colony world with 40,000 people living there. men and women and children who had left Earth to build a new life among the stars. The Krath were an insecttoid species that had been testing human defenses for months.

But this was different. This was a full invasion force. 47 capital ships and over 200 smaller attack craft. If they hit Ters, the colony wouldn’t stand a chance. The Valiant and her battle group were the only human ships in position to intercept. Every other fleet was weeks away, and by then it would be too late.

The colonists would be dead, all 40,000 of them. Jack knew his duty. He had always known his duty, but this time his duty was going to cost him something he could never get back. Greg sipped his coffee and waited. He wasn’t going to make this easier by speaking first. Jack appreciated that in a strange way.

Some officers would have tried to tell him what to do or offer empty comfort. Greg just sat there and let Jack work through it himself. Jack finally spoke and his voice sounded hollow even to his own ears. He told Greg that he had to choose between his daughter and 40,000 strangers. He asked how a man was supposed to make that kind of choice.

Greg leaned back in his chair and studied his friend carefully. Then he said something that Jack already knew but needed to hear. Greg told him that he had already made the choice. He just hadn’t accepted it yet. The words hit Jack like a physical blow because they were true. He had known the moment he read the intelligence brief what he was going to do.

He was going to stay with his ship. He was going to lead his battle group to Terseus. He was going to fight the Crath and try to save those 40,000 people. And he was going to miss his daughter’s wedding. Jack closed his eyes and felt the weight of that decision settle on his shoulders. Clare would never forgive him.

How could she? He had made her a promise. He had looked her in the eyes after her mother’s funeral and sworn that he would be there for her wedding day, that he would walk her down the aisle just like Margaret had always wanted, that nothing in the universe would keep him from being there, and now he was going to break that promise.

Greg spoke again, and his voice was gentle but firm. He told Jack that maybe Clare wouldn’t forgive him, but she would be alive to be angry. That had to be worth something. Jack opened his eyes and looked at his oldest friend. The man was right, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Jack stood up and walked to the viewport.

Outside, he could see the stars stretching away in all directions. Somewhere out there, the craft fleet was gathering. Somewhere else, 40,000 humans were going about their lives with no idea that death was coming for them. And back on Earth, his daughter was probably looking at seating charts and flower arrangements and counting down the days until her father walked her down the aisle.

He turned back to Greg, and his voice was steady now. He told Greg to call the senior staff. They would move to intercept the craft fleet in 6 hours. Every department needed to be at battle readiness. Weapons had to be checked. Shields had to be at full power.

They were going into a fight against terrible odds and they couldn’t afford any mistakes. Greg nodded and stood up. He understood. The decision was made. But before he left, he asked Jack one more question. He asked if Jack wanted him to send the message to Clare. Jack shook his head. This was something he had to do himself. It was the least he owed her. After Greg left, Jack sat down at his desk and pulled up a communication form.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long time. How did you tell your daughter that you were breaking the most important promise you had ever made? How did you explain that duty demanded sacrifice? How did you say goodbye to the relationship you had spent her whole life building? Jack finally started typing.

He kept it short because there was no way to make this better with more words. He told Clare he was sorry. He told her there was a situation in the ters system and he couldn’t give her details but people would die if he wasn’t there. He told her he knew he had promised. He knew what this meant. He would carry this regret for the rest of his life. But he had to do his duty.

He loved her more than anything in the universe. Jack read the message three times before sending it. Then he pressed the button and watched it disappear into the communications queue. In a few hours, Clare would read those words and her heart would break.

Jack put his head in his hands and allowed himself one moment of weakness, one moment to grieve for what he was about to lose. Then he stood up and put on his uniform jacket. He had a battle to prepare for and 40,000 people counting on him whether they knew it or not.