Coming Home (Free Fleet Book 2)

by Michael Chatfield

  “Everything else was good. I didn’t see any problems. Comments? Questions? Captain Geroud?”

  “Thank you, Commander Salchar, I was wondering why we don’t practice with full weaponry and our ships in full fighting trim?”

  It was a good question but I was prepared for it. “Our ships aren’t at that level. I want us to be ready to deal with a threat with what we’ve got, not what we might have. If an enemy jumped in right now, would simulations with fully refurbished warships help?”

  “No, Commander,” Captain Geroud said, looking shame faced.

  “Good question, though, and hopefully we’ll be simulating with fully ready warships soon enough.” This brought more than one grin to the faces of the captains projected in the conference room and doubtlessly around the warships.

  “Okay, back to what you were doing, then. And let’s show up back at Parnmal with a fully repaired fleet.” I grinned, nodding slightly before cutting the channel. I left the conference room, finding Shrift outside.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “My brother wants to know if you would like a tour of the dock and a talk over what he’s thinking of.”

  “I thought we had everything ironed out, and yeah, I’d love to have a wander around.”

  “Well, it’s more like he has a few suggestions to make the process faster, but he’d need you to okay it before he went ahead.”

  “Okay…” I said, feeling a little lost.

  “I’ll let him explain. Follow me.” Shrift walked me out as Krom and Calerd settled behind me.

  “How’s engineering treating you? I heard you got a transfer.”

  “Yeah, had enough time in the armory. I’ll double up if I need to, but I was finding I had less and less work because every damned Commando is qualified enough to be armorers themselves.”

  “Well, that’s good. I want them to know their kit well enough that they can fix it when need be.”

  “I agree, plus, I missed wandering around fixing so many systems. It makes my head spin. Though, working on them in the Resilient is a charm.” He tapped a bulkhead fondly as we entered the main airlock which cycled, letting us into the dockyard.

  “Why’s that?”

  “Well, she has a maintenance system that makes it easier to access even the smallest areas, and the ducts have ladders in them! Then there’s the color coded wiring!” Shrift carried on talking about the many things that made his life much easier, but I had never noticed and were not apparently on any other ship. I paused him in his list.

  “So who made the Resilient?”

  “Don’t know.”

  “Don’t know? Doesn’t she have logs?”

  “Well, yes, but it seems that the Resilient was found just on main drive, flying outside the jump point of a system, completely empty, the data was corrupt. Though, everything was fine with her and she was like a factory fresh ship.”

  “So, the damage came from battle, damn, I didn’t think much could harm her.”

  “The damage came from the Syndicate captain peeling off parts and selling them to settle debts.” I stopped, my face an angry ball. “Yes, he wasn’t the smartest.”

  “That’s a fact.” I growled. “Eddie said that the Resilient is the only of her class.”

  “Yes, she is a super dreadnought battleship, the biggest damned warship that isn’t a carrier. While the Resilient is one-point-two kilometers long, and eight hundred meters wide, a carrier is at least two kilometers long and one and a half wide. Then the biggest dreadnought below the Resilient is eight hundred meters long and five hundred wide.”

  “Damn, I never really realize just how damned big she is.”

  “Yeah, but in her prime, the Resilient is deadly as all hell.”

  “You’re damned right she will be. I’ve only heard of the Resilient three times, to be fixing up such an elegant and powerful girl will give my crew goosebumps,” Silly said as me and Shrift entered one of the massive machine shops which created or fixed the parts from my ships.

  “It is good to finally meet you, Silly,” I said, putting forward a hand.

  “Likewise, Commander Salchar,” he said, accepting it quickly and pumping it twice and I felt the power behind his arm. He was a squatter, wider version of Shrift with mass behind him. “Now, talking about my crew, I need more of them.”

  “We have shortages of people everywhere. I can’t give you people off of my ships as you know I’m only at two full shifts, if I’m lucky, per ship.”

  “Yes, I wouldn’t want to take them away from the ships either. Dockyard and ship engineers are two different birds of the same nest.”

  “So I can’t get you more people, as you see.”

  “But you can,” he said, a light in his eyes.

  “I’ll bite. How?”

  “Earth.”

  “And? None of them are trained in, well, anything. Plus, alliances and the like are changing.”

  “Yes. It’s the best time to strike. Open up a training-on-the-job option and apprenticeship. Train them at Hachiro how to survive in space and all the basics then send them to us. We’ll train them on how to get a ship back into shape and how to build one from the keel up.”

  “But all personnel in the Free Fleet need to have Commando training before they change to a trade.”

  “Make them civilian contractors. Then give options for joining up. The higher positions can be taken over by Free Fleet personnel, but the general stuff like power lines and the like can be made by civilians. Have the Free Fleet work on weapon systems and such.”

  “It would give us a possible supply of engineers for multiple trades within the Free Fleet and also bring Earth and other places into the present faster.”

  “Yeup! I asked Shrift beforehand, so I wrote up a plan. It will need changes, but I also added in the suggestion of possibly hiring groups such as those that work for ship builders on Earth and bringing those that have a slightly better idea of what to expect into space.”

  “You’ve done you’re homework; please send it to me.” I pulled out my data pad, checking I got the message before putting it away.

  “Now, I was promised a tour, so lets have a look around at our newest acquisition.”

  “No need to ask twice!” Silly said, beaming with pride at the dockyard he’d built as he took off.

  “We have three through yards proper, meaning you can have a ship come in from any end and then out of the other. They can be used to house ships up to the size of a battle cruiser. Smaller ships can be doubled or even tripled up. There are also eight attached hangars for inter-system ships, such as fighters and shuttles. Please, put on a suit.” He waved to space suits on racks before an airlock.

  I looked to Shrift who nodded appreciatively. When we’d been waiting in Chaleel the suppliers at Parnmal had been pumping out the improved battle suit which could now double as a space suit and not just an inner layer for a Mecha.

  I activated the space suit shroud. My suit sealed and a clear hood came over my face. Shrift did the same as Silly watched.

  “Damn, I have to get some of those,” Sily said, studying it.

  “We should have some in storage. If not, we have the plans for them, so you can get some made up quickly,” Shrift said.

  “Well, for now I’ll do it the old fashioned way.” He took a few minutes getting into his space suit. Shrift checked his seals. Krom had already checked mine and Shrift's seals on our battle suits. He went with Silly out first with Calerd coming into the airlock with me and Shrift.

  The airlock rotated open as I whistled. We were on top of the central command center for the shipyard which stretched kilometers in every direction. I could pick out ships within the docks and the others attached to the sides, waiting for their turn. I looked at the Resilient, her massive bulk waiting patiently. My improved eyes let me pick out the missing weaponry and the deep scars in her plating. She looked like a true dog of war, seeing her repaired would be a dream come true.

  “We’ve come
pretty far haven’t we, Shrift,” I said absently as I looked at the military might all around me. I won’t lie, it excited me as much as it scared me. The power massed here was a drug.

  “Yes we have, James, all because of you.”

  I snorted, looking at Shrift. “Gah, don’t you go saying that. It was all of us that got us here, not just me.”

  Shrift looked into my eyes. “Yes, we did all work together, but we wouldn’t have if you didn’t pull everyone together in training and then come up with a plan to let us escape. We all owe you more than we can repay in a lifetime.” He bowed his head.

  “Oh, stop that. I need you all to keep me in check too. Look at all that we have.”

  “Yes, but we trust in you as you will do what is for good us. You believe in the people under your command as we believe in you.”

  I felt like scratching my head in embarrassment. “Thanks,” I said, clearing my throat, a small smile on my face as I looked back out to the yards around me. “So, what else have we got here?” I asked Silly on a general channel.

  “The battle cruiser dock has five workshops for parts and the like, three large, two small. They are connected to two foundries which take in raw material, refine it, and process it. The other yards are slated to have the same compliment, but that is for later development. Currently, we’re also using the factory ships to supplement parts needed to bring the dock fully online and for repairs. They’re also building the necessary parts for their expansion as the other two docks can only fit a cruiser and below. Dock two is slated to be expanded to battle cruiser length. Though, none of these yards will fit the Resilient or a dreadnought, so plans have been created to add dock four. We will plan for it to be a super carrier dock but when it is half completed, we will be able to dock the Resilient there, or make a sister ship for her.

  My eyes drifted to the Resilient. Thinking of having two of the behemoths stunned me. Through my sleep training and what I’d read. I had come to truly understand how damned deadly the Resilient was. Two of them and moving to have a super carrier? Things were moving faster than I had ever thought. It could mean that my fleet could maybe have shuttles that weren’t taken from others but made by ourselves. I was stunned. Yes, I had known intellectually that it was possible, even doable, but thinking that and actually having it put in my face that it would and could happen, seeing the deadly machine it would create was something else entirely.

  “Damn, that’s exciting,” I said, feeling giddy.

  “Yes it is! It will take three years for us to get dock three done and dock four halfway to fit the Resilient, by my estimates, but depending on resources and manpower, we could cut it to two and a half years. Plus, using this… factory method of producing things could make it faster still.”

  “How long to get the yard to super carrier standards?”

  “Not sure. I haven’t built a yard that big. I have some that have in my staff, though. I think it would be at least… five years? I’m not to sure.” He shrugged.

  “Well, it’s something to think about in the future. She looks damned good.”

  “Yes, sir, they’re all a great sight to see, especially in our hands and not the Syndicates.”

  I nodded, making a noise of agreement as we all looked out over the yards, picking out people that looked like ants moving across ships pulling off the old and replacing it with new. It was a massive undertaking, but I had faith in my people.

  “I’ll go with him to help out with the human and military recruiters as well.” I waved Shrift off. “Alright, shoo, I’m just going to enjoy the view some more.” I looked back out to the shipyard, sitting on the edge of the command tower, magnetically clamping myself down as I watched people working on the ships of the fleet. I was lost in my own thoughts when someone tapped me on the shoulder.

  “Huh?” I said, shaking myself out of my reverie and looking up at Yasu. “Oh, hey.” I tapped the metal beside me and she sat down.

  “It’s quite the sight.”

  “It’s quite the undertaking.” I looked to her as she smiled. “I’m proud of you.”

  I grinned. “Ha. Remember that time you tried to beat me up in the middle of our first fight of squad against squad?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “At the time I was furious, but all I could think of was how good you looked in a sports bra and leggings.” She tried to look unimpressed as the corners of her mouth tugged upwards.

  “Who would’ve thought we’d go from that to not only taking over Hachiro, the Earth, a pirate station, another planet, plus-”

  “I get the idea, aish,” I said, exasperated as she gave me a tap on the shoulder and I grinned. She rested her head on my shoulder. I sighed after a few minutes. “I don’t know how I’ve been able to keep it going. The leaders of Earth were right about one thing, I should step aside and have someone else take over.”

  “What was all of that you said then?”

  “It was also the truth. They don’t have the people that should take over the fleet either.”

  “You really are a pabu sometimes.” She moved her head off of my shoulder, tilting my head so she was looking directly into my eyes.

  “You are Commander Salchar of the Free Fleet, my husband and the deadliest bastard in space. The man that will pull apart the Syndicate and lead the broken people left behind the Syndicate into the light of peaceful times. You will lead men and women into battle and many will not come back, but you will do your duty and crush the Syndicate no matter the odds.”

  I growled as battle hormones filled me. “Yes.” I looked back out to the fleet as I felt the need to punch something.

  Yasu came closer, touching our helmets together so we didn’t need a radio channel.

  “Now I think we should try out some of those hand to hand moves in our quarters and I might let you sleep afterwards.

  I looked over as she bit her lip. In a second I was up, throwing her over my shoulder to her protests as I ran to the air lock, Krom and Calerd rushing after me.

  “Put me down!” Yasu howled, laughing as she kicked and punched ineffectually.

  We cleared the airlock, the Sato sisters faces slightly stunned, as I sprinted down the corridor with Yasu over my shoulder. I ran for the elevator. Krom and Calerd cleared the airlock, following the Sato sisters who where now running after me and Yasu. People looked up from their work as I made it into the elevator. I twiddled my fingers at mine and Yasu’s protection details, a grin plastered on my face as I put in the override codes and the elevator shot towards the Resilient.

  I put Yasu down just as we stopped. We straightened our appearances as our hoods retracted and our battle suits unsealed. We had a speed walking competition to the ship. I gave a two finger salute to the airlock guard who was at attention, saluting me. He dropped his salute, turning back to the airlock to hide his grin as me and Yasu rushed to our room.

  Janice and Dave were already waiting outside of our door, obviously being foretold by mine and Yasu’s protection detail. They hit the hatch release as me and Yasu rushed inside. Yasu hit the closing button as I pinned her to the bulkhead, our lips coming together in a rush as she hit the lock button. Our hands found the battle suits releases as we walked to the bed, our clothes falling away as our hands wandered over each other. Yasu pushed me back and I fell on the bed, falling on top of me as I pulled her to me.

  “I think this is how I stopped you in training,” I said. She grinned wickedly, her hair falling on my face, making a curtain that closed us off from the world.

  While we enjoyed in the, erm, physical side of one another a lot, we were pumped with endorphins and boosters through our food, and near death experiences definitely had an affect on our libido.

  Chapter Recruiting Drive and Changes.

  My implants and data pad went off, announcing that some new issue had arisen.

  I got up groggily, looking at the bare back of Yasu. I played my fingers over her back as she nuzzled her pillow, unwilling to wake up. I grinned
as I got out of bed and stepped into the head to take a shower. She’d been right. There hadn’t been much sleep, but the few hours I had gotten had been the most relaxing I’d had in a while. I had dreamed of Yasu instead of the many souls that visited me every night. I checked myself in the mirror, running my hand through my hair before letting it settle in its half slice. I put on a new battle suit as Yasu was shifting. She cracked an eyelid at the light from the head.

  “Turn it off!” she said into the pillow. I did so, my eyesight adjusting to the minimal light in our quarters. “Now say goodbye,” she said with a smile. My face split in a grin as I kneeled down and she raised her head to meet my lips.

  “I’ll see you in a bit,” I said.

  “Yes you will, now get us the people we need for your fleet and hurry up about it. It’s about time we went and saw Monk. Also, remember to figure out how to house the families of those you offered accommodations to,” she said sleepily as I grinned at her reminders.

  “Yes, dear.”

  “I like the sound of that.” She smiled sleepily as I stood, shaking my head, not wanting to leave as I got to the hatch.

  “Close the hatch after you!”

  My grin widened as I walked outside and followed her instructions. Who would have thought that I would actually enjoy married life? I certainly hadn’t, I admitted to myself with a happy grin.

  “Alright, well, let’s get to work then,” I said to my fully assembled protection detail as they fell in around me and guided me to the conference room turned office.

  It was a few minutes until someone walked in.

  “Hello, Shrift,” I said as I put down my data pad.

  “James.” Shirft was one of the few people that still called me James, and only when behind closed doors. He took a seat as I sat back.