Stollar's Gambit

by Jason Borondy

  Before she could answer, Thompson chimed in with. “Also what sort of medical support will I have?”

  She put her hand up to stop any further questions. She first turned to Thompson and said, “You will have a couple of the Doc’s, Corpsman. It is my understanding that everyone injured during the engagement has been seen and given the proper medical treatment. He should be able to free up a couple of people, along with an emergency pod.”

  She then turned to Sinclair, “As for your question, XO, he can set aside a couple of people. We have reaction teams especially set up for this right?”

  “Yes, Captain,” he replied looking like he was caught off guard by her response.

  “Now, may I continue,” she said looking at both gentlemen.

  “Yes, Captain,” they responded in unison.

  “Once everything is cleared, and barring any major medical emergencies, you will have three hours to get all the information you can about what happened, then you get out of there. From that point it will be about a four-hour flight back to the Little Rock from the station,” she said, pointing at the display as it changed from current locations of everything to the predicted track.

  Sinclair raised his hand and asked, “Is that enough time to investigate?”

  “It will have to be for now. We can look at sending another crew tomorrow if need be. Hopefully we will regain communication with the station, and this will all be for not. That is the best case scenario and at this time the lowest possibility.”

  “Understood,” he said.

  “Major, how long will it take to get your Squad ready to go?” she asked.

  “Give me an hour to get them prepped and loaded onto the shuttle,” he responded looking at his watch.

  “Good,” she began and then turned to Sinclair, “XO, tell the team they have an hour to get ready.”

  “That is pretty quick for most some of them, but they should be able to manage,” he replied.

  “They need to. Every minute we wait makes this mission longer than it needs to be,” she said.

  “Understood, ma’am.”

  “Major, you are dismissed. XO, please stay a moment. I need to talk over some last minute ship details.”

  With that Major Thompson stood up from his chair and made his way to the door. Once the hatch closed Jessica turned to Sinclair and asked, “Are you okay? This is the second time today it looks like I caught you off guard for some ship-related issue.”

  “I am fine, ma’am. I am still getting used to the job,” he replied.

  “Like I said when you came aboard, I am here to help. I understand what it is like to be an XO and how the initial adjustment can take a little to get used to. If you have questions, please feel free to ask me. I want you to succeed at this. If this situation leads to a larger conflict, and I hope it doesn’t, we will need you on top of your game. Understood?” she said calmly.

  “Yes, ma’am. I just was hoping I could push through this myself, but I will ask for more guidance in the future,” he replied apologetically.

  “Good,” she smiled. “Now get out there and get the team ready to go.”

  “Aye, Captain.”

  “Dismissed, XO.”

  Once the door closed after he left, Jessica sat back in her seat, letting out a big sigh. She hated the fact that he didn’t seem to trust her. She hoped he would learn from this and come to her for guidance.

  Her door chimed letting her know that someone was requesting her attention. “Guess a Captain’s work is never done,” she whispered to herself and then said aloud, “Enter!” as she sat up in her chair.

  The door slid open and Senior Chief McKnight walked through the entryway. “You wanted to see me, Captain?” she asked as the door closed behind her.

  “Yes, Senior Chief. Please have a seat,” Jessica replied motioning with her hand towards one of the chairs in front of her.

  McKnight strolled over and sat down in the left seat that Major Thompson had just vacated a few minutes before. She sat very stiff. Her body posture was perfect. It was like she was expected some sort of dress drown. “Relax, Senior Chief. How are you doing? Can you give me a little more info on what happened out there?” she asked.

  McKnight seemed to relax a bit. Her shoulders slouched a tiny bit. “I am doing fine, ma’am. The Doc says I am good to go. No physical injuries,” McKnight replied.

  “That is good to hear.”

  “As for what happened, I am not 100 percent sure. One moment I have the arm grappling the buoy and then there was a blueish flash from it and all my systems died. I was adrift and all I could do is watch all the fireworks from the from the pod windows. I was glad I had an EVA suit on, though. I would never have been able to contact you at all. Plus, I was afraid life support would have not lasted,” she explained.

  “Good thinking wearing one. I know a lot of people in a rush would have skipped it. That does get me to my second question though. Why you?” Jessica asked.

  “Ma’am?” she replied a bit confused.

  A little angry Jessica said, “Don’t play with me, Senior Chief. Why were you so insistent that you be the one to retrieve the buoy?”

  “I…Um--” McKnight started. She was looking visibly upset. Her eyes were beginning to well up a little. In the short time Jessica knew McKnight she had never even given her a hint of this sort of behavior. McKnight always came across as this tough-as-nails Senior NCO. Hardly showing any emotion and not letting anything bother her.

  “It’s my son,” McKnight continued, her voice beginning to crack.

  “Son? I wasn’t aware you had any kids,” Jessica responded. Now she was the one caught off guard.

  “Yes. From my first marriage. My ex got custody and I only saw him in the brief times I got back to Earth. We would maintain contact through messaging back and forth,” she responded.

  “I am sorry, I didn’t know,” Jessica responded.

  “It’s okay, ma’am, I generally keep my personal stuff to myself.”

  “I understand. Just that having kids is a big deal in a person’s life. Sort of hard to go unnoticed,” Jessica said.

  “I would have eventually. I just like to get to know people a little more before I unload some of my personal stuff.”

  “I assume he was on the Moscow?” Jessica asked.

  “Yes,” she began, “It was Jake’s his first assignment.” She began to sniffle a bit. “He graduated from his tech school a few months ago. He is an engine tech for the shuttles on the Moscow.” A tear began to roll from her eye.

  Jessica opened a drawer at her desk and pulled a small box of tissues from it. She kept them mainly because the air handlers in starships drove her allergies crazy, and for situations like this. She got up and walked around the desk. She handed McKnight the box and put a hand on her shoulder.

  McKnight looked up at her and said, “Thanks, Captain,” and took one of the tissues and used it on her nose. “But do you have any ideas on what happened?”

  Jessica looked down at McKnight and replied, “I am working on a plan to investigate it now. I have our communications specialist working on the buoy and I am sending a team to the station to hopefully retrieve more info.”

  “Permission to oversee the buoy project, ma’am?” McKnight asked.

  “Are you sure you are up too it? You can take a break to get your bearings and reset,” she replied.

  “Thanks, ma’am, but I will be fine. I need to keep busy.”

  Jessica gave McKnight a nod. “Good,” she said as she walked back to her seat behind the desk. “If it feels like it is getting too much for you, please take yourself off the line and get some rest.”

  “Understood,” McKnight replied standing up from her chair holding out the box of tissues to give back to Jessica. “Is there anything else, Captain?”

  “No, but you can keep those. I have plenty,” Jessica said, pointing to the box.

  “That’s okay.” McKnight began placing the box on the table. “Can’t let them
see me cry or have any evidence I can,” she said with a half-smile.

  “Fine. If there is nothing else you are dismissed,” Jessica replied with a smile. That was the senior chief she knew. Jessica quickly grabbed the box and placed it back in the desk. McKnight threw away the used tissue in the covered waste bin.

  McKnight then walked to the door and pressed the open button. The door hissed open and she walked out. The door closed and once again Jessica was alone in her office. She pressed some keys to have her monitor flip back into position in front of her where she could see it. Now she needed to record a message to update command on their current plan to investigate the station.

  17

  EDF Headquarters

  Atlanta, Georgia Earth

  “Hopefully the investigation team will be able to ascertain what happened in this system. I will send my preliminary report once Major Thompson’s team returns to the Little Rock. Commander Stollar out,” Jessica said. Her face was displayed on the screen in the briefing room. She reached down for a second and the screen went black. Then the crest of the EDF appeared on the screen.

  The illumination in the briefing room rose back to normal as the screen turned off. Two individuals who accompanied Jackson and flanked him at the table swung around in their chairs to face him.

  “Well, what do you think?” he asked looking at both individuals.

  On his left was General McIntyre. She was the general of all the EDF’s ground forces. She looked younger than her actual age with brown hair pulled back into a tight bun with crows feet that were slightly visible next to her dark brown eyes. She wore a black service dress uniform that was impeccable and was littered with ribbons that told a tale of her near thirty years of military service. It was a sharp contrast to the man on Jackson’s right.

  Director Rhee was head of the Alliance Intelligence Agency. He was dressed in an upscale gray suit with a dark blue tie. He was of Korean descent and had short graying black hair and brown eyes.

  General McIntyre said as she leaned forward on the table fingers interlocking, “My first thought is, who still uses Kamikaze tactics like that? I remember reading about the tactic in the Academy. It is an old twentieth century tactic from World War II. No one has used it since. Commander Stollar did a great job covering the pod and taking out the threat with minimal damage to her ship.”

  “I agree, somewhat,” Director Rhee stated, sitting back in his seat.

  “What do you mean?” Jackson asked turning to him.

  “While General McIntyre is correct in her analysis of the combat data, suicide attacks have been used throughout history by various terrorist organizations. That is nothing new. It just surprises me that an evolved alien race like the Neptunians would use that tactic.”

  Jackson hated the name Neptunian. That is why he cringed at the man’s answer.

  “How do you know it is the Neptunian’s? The only known sighting of one of their ships was from over twenty years ago and that young commander’s father blew it pieces no bigger than a quarter!” she said pointing to the display screen on the opposite side of the room.

  “It is only an educated guess at this point, General,” he said putting his hands up defensively. “It is just we have never seen ships like that before.”

  “That is true, Director Rhee,” Jackson started. “We just can’t assume that every alien race we encounter is from the same species. The universe is big and it is safe to assume that there is more than just two intelligent species inhabiting it.”

  “That is true, Admiral, but just like her father, it seems Commander Stollar didn’t leave too much to investigate of the alien ships. We won’t know for a certainty if this is the same species or not,” Rhee replied.

  “You are correct, Director, but Commander Stollar did what was necessary to protect her crew. I don’t fault her at all for that,” Jackson said.

  “Well, a more experienced ship’s captain would have been able to do both,” Rhee stated.

  “What do you mean, Director?” Jackson asked eyes narrowing.

  “You know exactly what I mean, Admiral. You fast tracked that young woman into a seat for command before she was ready because of your hero worship of her father,” Lee replied, sitting forward in his seat to meet Jackson’s look.

  “That is not true at all, Director. She earned that position by what she has accomplished,” Jackson said his tone of voice increasing.

  “I am just saying that if it was up to me, someone else would have been in charge of the Little Rock,” Rhee stated leaning back in his seat.

  “I am glad it is not up to you then,” Jackson started. “But to alleviate your experience issue, I have dispatched the Spruance to assist. They should be there by the time her team is back from the station. Is that okay with you?”

  “It is, Admiral. Thank you,” Rhee said with a smile.

  “Is there anything else you would like to discuss before you head back to file your individual analysis reports? The Chief of Staff wants them by 1600 hours today, which gives you about five hours.”

  “No,” both responded almost in unison.

  “Good. Director Rhee, you are free to go, I need to talk to General McIntyre for a moment,” Jackson said.

  “Understood,” Rhee said as he held out a hand as he stood up. “I didn’t mean to upset you, Admiral, I was just giving an honest analysis.”

  “Appreciate it,” Jackson said as he shook Lee’s hand.

  Rhee gathered his secured tablet and walked out of the room.

  Director Rhee sitting at his desk finished his report in about two hours. He was efficient as he was detailed. He prided himself on getting things done ahead of deadlines. Now that he was done with what was needed, he could turn his attention onto other matters.

  He turned and keyed in his secure ID to open a network communication link to the Spruance. Hoping the ship would be in-range of a network connection. He typed a header and marked it for Commanding Officer’s Eyes only. On his screen was the words is in green “Connecting…” After a few minutes the screen blinked to life and the face of a middle-aged man with graying blond hair and blue eyes appeared on the screen. He could tell by his expression that the man was not happy to see him.

  “Captain Kovacs, you don’t look so happy to see me,” Rhee said with a greasy smile.

  “No, Director Rhee, I am not,” Kovacs answered.

  “Why? If it was not for me you would still be stuck teaching at that school on Earth. Now you are a starship captain cruising around the galaxy. You should be happy,” Rhee said.

  “I understand, Director, and thank you for that, but I am also busy right now and don’t have too much time for chit chat,” Kovacs stated.

  “Oh, this is not a social call. I need you to do something for me.”

  Kovacs slouched a little in his chair and asked, “What do you want?”

  “Nothing too big. I just need all the data from the Little Rock’s investigation from Canary station, and I need you to get Commander Stollar off this investigation, by any means necessary,” he ordered.

  18

  Shuttle LR02

  Canary Station, Canary System

  Major Thompson stood in the back of the shuttle’s flight deck as it approached Canary Station. They were on the end of the breaking burn as the shuttle was reducing its relative approach speed to the station. He took a step forward and peered over the co-pilot’s shoulder to get a good view of the station.

  The station was simple in design. It was made up of three cylindrical structures that were attached side by side with support trusses and interconnected structures that made up the hallways. A glass bubble ran down the top spin of the middle structure. Major Thompson figured that to be the observation deck. Communication antennae hung below the station like a metallic stalactite. Branching off on each end like giant golden wings were the station’s solar panels. Major Thompson knew the station ran on a small reactor. The solar panels were there to charge the lights and life support batteri
es in case of emergencies. Thompson took a step back to where he could stand straight up again.

  “Still no word?” Thompson asked.

  “No,” replied the pilot. “We have been sending request every twenty minutes since we left the Little Rock. No response.”

  “Have you scanned for damage? I see the solar panels are deployed--could they be running on batteries?” Thompson asked.

  “It is a possibility. I am having trouble setting up a link to their system. If I could establish it, I could download the diagnostics from the station,” the co-pilot responded, turning back to Thompson holding up a hand in defeat.

  “Well we have about ten minutes until we can land in the station’s bay. You probably want to get your team ready, Major,” the pilot said as he manipulated the controls of the shuttle.

  “Agreed,” Thompson replied as he turned to head out the open flight deck door to the cargo bay.

  He entered the cargo bay where twelve individuals were in various states of preparedness. Six of them were Thompson’s Marines. They were outfitted in black armored Combat EVA suits. Their helmets were off and hanging on hooks above them. They each had small SM-3 carbine attached by a retractable line attached to the front armor plate. Various other mission-related devices were attached to different hard points on the suits. Other individuals in the cargo bay were wearing standard EVA suits. There was the two corpsman, two engineering techs, the shuttle’s loadmaster and finally Lieutenant Ray.

  It was because of Lieutenant Ray that they were a half of an hour late departing. He fought Commander Stollar so much she had to threaten career-ending paperwork to motivate him. He was also the reason Major Thompson was on this mission and not Captain Henderson. She ordered Major Thompson to personally watch Ray to keep him in line.

  “Alright everyone we have 10 minutes until we dock. I want everyone sealed up and ready in five!” Thompson yelled over the high pitch wine of the engines.