She chuckled and let him go. “I think it's shake some hands and kiss some babies.”
“I guess it is,” Jake said, smiling and nodding at her as she wiped her nose and eyes.
“Who you're going to see?”
“The Chairperson and a few other people, I'll be back in a couple hours.”
“Okay, just don't forget; shaking and kissing, not kissing and shaking.” she reminded, shaking her finger at him.
He made his way to the gangway and down it as Ashley watched him leave. She shook her head and continued to the bridge. Stephanie was standing behind the pilot's chair, her hands on the head rest as she leaned forward, looking at the controls closely. “So I was just kidding around with the Captain,” Ashley said as she walked in and plopped herself into the command chair. Stephanie was startled at the sound of her voice and spun around.
“Don't do that!”
“Some boarding person you are, snook right up on ya.”
“I'm First Officer now. All permanent like,” she said with a smile.
Ashley jumped out of the chair and hugged the taller woman. “You're not leaving!” She squealed.
“Nope. I have to see if this new attitude the Captain has lasts.”
“I know, it's like night and day, so different.”
“He's different all right. Like he had a psychotic break different.” Stephanie said.
“Only it's like he broke and got better. I wonder what it'll be like, him talking to the press.”
“There's press out there? He works fast.”
“He didn't tell you? He has to talk to press people and the Chairperson.”
“I knew about the Chairperson.”
Ashley let go of Steph and turned on the forward sensors. She brought up the Captain walking towards the airlock leading into the tower and focused in.
“We're spying on Captain now?”
“I always spy on Captain,” Ashley said with a smile. “Saved his butt once too. Caught someone sneaking up on him.”
“I remember that, we woke some vagrant up. He was sleeping in a crate near our landing zone.”
“Oh, I didn't know it was just a bum.”
“Yup, he was a well armed vagrant with a nice long pipe. Hey, it looks like there's a pretty big crowd on the other side of the doors.”
“Scanners are picking up about twenty people. I'll try to extrapolate a holo image,” Ashley said as she worked the control panel.
“Draw the focus out a bit.”
A moment later she got it and could see a semi circle of reporters surrounding Captain Valance. She turned the image so they could see his face. “Wow, just like that he looks like he's made of stone again,” Ashley said.
“I think that's just how he looks when he's surprised. I wish we could hear what he's saying.”
“I'll see if we can pick it up on the local Newsnet.” Ashley said as she checked the basic communications panel that was built into the pilot's station. After a few moments the sound came up.
“-of the cargo train?”
“From what I could determine, the purpose of the cargo train was to transport slaves to scientific testing facilities owned by Regent Galactic before it was hijacked.” Answered Captain Valent.
“Are you a member of the Thadd defence force or a hidden military sub sect?”
“The Samson, her crew and I are not in any way affiliated with the Thadd system. They were only kind enough to provide emergency assistance since our cargo hauler is not equipped to do so.”
Several questions came at him at once then, it was hard to pick out which one he decided to answer after listening for a few seconds.
“I'm not willing to discuss my past or any criminal charges that may have been dismissed or pardoned in other sectors,” he answered.
“Have you worked in the slave trade before?”
“No. My ships haul cargo and I work as a registered bounty hunter and repossession agent.” He looked up as he answered, and the rest of the press nearby stopped and looked as well.
“The communications terminal just went crazy. The emergency bands just lit up, all of them,” Stephanie said. “Cynthia, come to the bridge please.”
“I'm on my way,” she responded through her communicator.
Stephanie turned on the emergency channel. “-again, Regent Galactic fleet on approach. They have destroyed our outer system defences. The Search and Rescue vessels are escaping but there are still bombardment volleys headed towards the planet.”
Ashley took her seat at the pilot's station and made preparations for takeoff.
The sounds of distant explosive impacts came across the news network they were monitoring. The reporters were all trying to narrate the occurrences at the same time and Ashley turned the sound off.
Stephanie could see that Captain Valance was already running back to the ship, less than a hundred meters away. “Finn, I think we'll need you on the bridge.” She turned to Ashley. “I'll get to the guns.”
“Good idea, hope we don't need them.” Ashley replied over her shoulder.
“I'm on board, go!” Crackled the communication from the Captain.
Cynthia rushed into the bridge and sat down at the communications terminal. “The whole solar system is on alert. Regent Galactic has an entire attack fleet on the way. Five carriers and at least twenty five destroyers along with a couple battle cruisers and smaller ships.”
“Did the rescue ships get out?” Captain Valance asked as he ran into the bridge, sitting down at the co-pilot’s station.
“They did sir, they're clear.”
“Can you call up a conditions or demands list?”
It took a moment for Cynthia to look it up. “We're at the top along with the cargo train. They're also after the government officials that approved the emergency aid.”
Captain Valance finished plotting a course out of the planet's atmosphere and put it on screen for Ashley, who started manoeuvring the ship away from the docking towers.
“Careful, ship coming up at eleven o'clock,” Jake pointed out.
“I see it,” she replied.
Finn arrived on the bridge. “Sorry, I had to help Stephanie load the main guns. The power cell was disconnected.” He took a moment to check the ship status board. “Everything looks fine from here except engine five is a little off balance. We can compensate for the next twenty light years before we have to shut it down and service it.”
The Samson was just breaking atmosphere and Captain Valance was trying to plot a course into hyperspace and determine how close the enemy ships were at the same time. “This can't be right. Someone check this on the tactical screen.”
Finn stepped over to the tactical station. “What am I looking for?”
“I'm seeing a group of thirty ships divided into five wedge formations, should be marked grey.”
“I see them.”
“Range?”
“There are two numbers, one says three point seventeen, the other says fifty nine thousand and counting down.” Finn said as he moved back to the engineering station. “Why do the guns not have power?”
“The guns have no power!” Stephanie yelled from the ladder just around the corner.
“I know! I'm looking into it!” Answered Finn.
“So we have just over three minutes before the second battle group you're seeing catches us from the other direction?” Ashley asked.
“Just under,” answered Captain Valance as he continued to plot their hyperspace course.
“Sir, there's an incoming communication from Regent Galactic,” Cynthia reported.
“Give me a summary.”
“They promise to go lightly if we power down and allow ourselves to be taken into custody.”
“Well, the computer's checking my navigation figures right now so hopefully we'll be gone before they're within range to do anything about us leaving.”
“We just took damage! Some kind of fragmentation missile, aft, lower quarter,” Finn reported.
“Finn, hit the shields, big red square on the main tactical panel. Then hit the three green buttons above it. The control board will give you warning messages on each of them, just ignore it.”
“Got it, um.” Finn said nervously as he looked closer at the tactical display. “Incoming!” He called out as he dropped himself into the chair.
The whole ship shook hard, knocking everyone around.
“What was it?” Jake asked.
Finn pulled himself out of the tactical chair and returned to his station. “I don't know, but we're venting in five sections. One emitter is down. I'm sealing it off.”
“How are our hyperspace systems?”
“Still good, we can compensate with other emitters, but we can't lose another.”
“Good.”
Captain Valance didn't give any warning, he just started the emitters. Once the hull's surface was covered with exotic particles Ashley brought the engine thrust to maximum and the Samson began accelerating into hyperspace.
Everyone sighed and fell back into their chairs except for Finn, who always monitored his station on his feet.
Stephanie came down the ladder just outside the bridge and walked in, sitting at the tactical station. “It didn't take them long to find us.”
“Frost and Burke had better hope I never see them again,” Captain Valance said quietly. Some of the characteristics they had come to know so well over the years had crept back.
“Do you think they'd really turn so fast?” Cynthia asked.
“Burke would,” Ashley answered quietly.
“I know Frost would do it for the payday,” Captain Valance answered. “Frost and people like him follow the gravy train and I'll bet he's browsing the Stellarnet looking to buy a ship of his own. He's been talking about starting his own operation.”
“I'd love to see you two competing for the same bounty,” Stephanie commented.
“He doesn't have the stones or the brains to run a ship for long. Burke will be running the show after a month and that's if they don't drink or gamble everything away,” Ashley added. “Or disappear into some brothel for a week.”
“Well, they're dust. Hopefully we can make good distance in the next few days.”
“Where are we headed Captain?” Asked Stephanie, she was paying close attention to his mood, which seemed dark and pensive.
“Our first stop is the Enreega system. We need repairs and an ally.”
Terry Ozark McPatrick
The bridge of the Roi De Ciel was an oval with two crew per station. Navigation, Tactical, Communications, Engineering, and Field Control all worked around the central Command station. Captain Terry Ozark McPatrick and his first Officer, Commander Mary Inez sat reviewing gravitational and thermal data from the surrounding area.
The lights were dimmed, all a shade of red to indicate the ship was cloaked. They ran their regular patrol along the main supply lane coming out of the Skyros system. With few ships still covering the area, there couldn't be enough eyes on the passive scanner readouts, watching for enemy ships near the numerous troop and spatial force withdrawal operations taking place since the Vindyne surrendered.
“We've arrived at the safe point Captain,” reported navigation.
“Thank you, drop the cloaking field, raise shields. We're communications free, collect new data from Fleet.”
The Roi De Ciel appeared behind a rocky grey rogue planet. It's one hundred ninety meter long silvered hull's surface was interrupted only by the finned energy collectors along its sides and the twenty four turrets that ran along the top and bottom. As with all new Freeground fleet designs, the bridge was in the central interior and the observation deck was where you'd normally find a command center with huge transparesteel windows across the upper front. To look at the area the ship inhabited, you wouldn't notice it. The surface of the ship was treated with many layers of material that caused light to curve around it without using power. The cloaking field was an added piece of technology that collected and all the ship's emissions, reduced its gravity profile to as near nothing as possible and disguised any energy, making it perfectly invisible to any scan outside of a fifty meter range.
“Time to check in with Fleet Command. You have the bridge Commander,” Captain McPatrick said as he walked out into the hallway.
His office and quarters were right above the bridge, a quick ladder climb away. They weren't conserving energy so he was able to take the gravity lift instead. He stepped onto the pad and it shifted the gravity so he was gently moved to the next deck. The hatchway opened and in three steps he was walking through his office door.
Pictures of his three sisters, his four nephews, three nieces and his parents were carefully arranged on one wall. On the other was his other family. A large portrait of the command crew of the First Light hung there. Laura and Jason, who were the field technician and communications officers aboard. Minh-Chu's portrait was next, he was the Flight Commander. Followed by himself in the First Officer's position, and last was Doctor Anderson, the Chief Medical Officer. In front of the group was Commander Ayan Rice, the Engineering Chief, and Captain Jonas Valent. Underneath the image of the First Light was laser painted.
The First Light was an antique refitted destroyer and during their mission together they had managed to add and refine so much technology aboard that she was worth more than twice her tonnage in combat power. It was the first ship in the Freeground fleet with economically sound energy shielding, a particle accelerator with a high yield and systems widely enhanced by antimatter. Many of the designs that went into improving that ship were used in the construction of the Roi De Ceil. There were times when he would be standing on a deck and notice a corner, or a feature that looked like it was taken straight from the First Light. Most importantly, the First Light represented a time of great adventure, progress and camaraderie for Captain McPatrick.
The short time he served on that ship changed his life. He made friendships that would last forever and lost friends he would miss for the rest of his days. He looked at Minh-Chu Buu, grinning at him from the group portrait and sighed. “You would be in your glory out here. Your sister, Hein just had her third girl, she was hoping for a boy this time. They tell stories to your nieces and nephews, they think you were this crazy pilot hero. Too bad they leave the part about your cooking out. Maybe one of them would want to be a chef when they grow up instead of a fighter pilot.”
He couldn't help but look up at Jonas and Ayan for a moment. “She still looks for you, we all do Captain,” he shook his head and turned to face the doorway to his personal quarters. “Computer, open secure communications to Freeground Fleet Command. Subject: routine report.”
“One moment please.” Replied the flat voice. He didn't want any kind of personality included in his ship's artificial intelligence. His previous experiences had soured him on the idea.
After another minute the image of Rear Admiral Trenton, a brown haired fellow about his own age, was projected in front of him. With the holographic technology in his office, it looked like the Admiral was standing right there. He saluted.
“At ease Captain. How goes the patrol?”
“Eventful. Two Warlords have publicly announced their claim on the Skyros system. Some of the Vindyne crews have turned pirate and we've had eight kills this week.”
“Any damage?”
“None worth mentioning, sir. What troubles me is their unwillingness to surrender or run.”
“Everyone's trying to make their mark and scratch out some territory out there Captain. The fall of Vindyne has left too many military assets and unregulated systems in the open. We have word that a super carrier has taken control of the Shael Den system. There are nine resource heavy moons and two terraformed planets there. Instead of one big corporation in that area we'll have a hundred warlords all fighting for supremacy. Just be glad we've pulled out of the Triad held sectors.”
“I am, trust me. I just can't wait to see more keels laid for this class. Our mo
rale is high, our success rate out here is phenomenal. I'm sure if we use the tools we're given properly we'll prove this design in no time.”
“You've already proven it as far as I'm concerned. I'd say your final report on the new Nightshade class of vessel may just be the last piece of the puzzle we need to get more of those ships built. Your sister ship has had similar success.”
“Final report sir?”
“You're being reassigned. Our forces are almost finished pulling out of that area. The last of them are taking a wormhole home and should be here in less than a day. You are to make best speed back to Freeground. You have a new assignment waiting for you.”
“May I ask about my next posting?”
“You'll be promoted when you arrive and taking command of the Sunspire. We've renamed her since she's no longer a shadow ship and we want her distinguished history to continue under her original name. Her final shakedown yielded better than expected results. She will be given a full crew for the first time in over a century and put into service as a mobile base for a special task force. After nearly seven years in space dock, you could imagine Fleet Command is relieved.”
“Sending us straight into the fight sir?”
“No. That was where the Sunspire was supposed to go, yes, but Fleet Command changed their minds as soon as something came to our attention. We've found Captain Jonas Valent. He's been running under the name Jake Valance several sectors away.”
Captain McPatrick didn't know what to think for a moment. His shock and relief were overwhelming. “Does Ayan know?”
“She knows and has assumed command of the Midland. She's on her way back here.”
“Captain Engel can't be too happy about that.”
“He's professional enough to realize that she's not acting entirely on a personal level. The Midland's new drive systems have been approved by Special Projects, so she's due back at space dock for final inspection anyway. Depending on her health, Major Rice will be transferring to the Sunspire along with her Special Projects staff.”
“Why put one of Fleet's most important ships on this mission?”
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