Retribution

by Dave O'Connor

  Dave could see her at a table with LCmd Li Nahn, the commander of the 11th Fighter Squadron. He led Rihan over to the table and they sat down. “Very nice eulogy Rose” said Dave.

  “It’s the least I could do Sir” she responded. “Kat and I were dammed lucky to survive. Juko and Sammy weren’t so lucky.”

  Dave recognised the fatalism that was so commonly adopted by warriors facing death on a daily basis, especially when so much rested on chance. He nodded and then added “You obviously took the time to get to know them well.”

  “They were good guys. I liked them.”

  “You obviously don’t subscribe to the view that’s pretty common amongst fighter pilots that you don’t get too close.”

  “Nah, life’s too short. I want to feel everyday while I’m alive.” She looked directly into Dave’s eyes. “Even if it involves pain and loss.”

  There was a bit of bravado there but Dave could see that she did mean it. “You OK?”

  “For now. I’ll have a cry later when none of these jokers can see me.” And she gave him a sad smile. Li put his arm around her. Rose accepted it without comment. She inhaled strongly through her nose and was obviously fighting to remain composed. “I tell you what Sir. I’m looking forward to a real steak back at Nova Vista” and she smiled.

  “Yeah a real steak would be good” said Dave. Dave looked at Li but Li’s focus was light years away now. This had not been the first time Li had lost pilots but Dave also knew that it didn’t matter how many you lost you always came away and agonised over what you could have done to have prevented it.

  Li became aware of Dave’s gaze and snapped out of it. “We’ll be fine Sir.”

  Dave nodded and everyone fell silent preferring to focus on their food.

  Rihan looked around and everywhere she looked there were sombre or reflective faces. ‘This was the low’ she thought to herself. After all battles in which friends are lost there always comes a time when you have to confront that loss. She knew what it was like to put that day off, as they had done after the ambush on Josker. But she reckoned it was best done as soon after the event as possible.

  Thankfully on this occasion there was no one that close to her. They had hardly time to introduce themselves before going into battle. She didn’t even recognise some of the names of the marines. It was then that she remembered something.

  “Excuse me darling” she whispered to Dave “I just remembered I have to go and see Cpl Chada.”

  Preserving the subdued state Dave whispered back “Who’s Cpl Chada?”

  “Buster’s girl.”

  “Really? The sly dog.”

  “There’s a lot you miss Captain Warner” said Rihan with a smile.

  “Obviously. OK I’ll see you later then.”

  Rihan took the lift down to D deck where the ‘other ranks’ were quartered. The mess was near full but others were relaxing in the adjacent lounge area and this is where Rihan saw Kali Chada. She was in deep conversation with a trooper but she caught Rihan’s eye and made her excuses and came over to Rihan.

  “Are you right Maam?” she asked.

  “Yeah I’m OK Kali. I just thought I’d drop by and see how you were going.”

  Kali smiled. She was pleasantly surprised that the XO had taken time out to see her. They sat down in one of the lounges.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t bring Buster back with us” said Rihan.

  “Yeah me too. But don’t feel bad Maam. I wouldn’t want to do anything to risk Buster’s health. As you said, he’ll re-join us soon enough.”

  “I hope so too.”

  “What do you mean ‘hope’?”

  “It’s early days yet but they have to wait and see if he regains full use of his leg. There’s a chance he may not.” Kali felt like someone had punched her in the gut. She sunk back into the seat. Rihan added “But there’s a very good chance he will make a full recovery. So don’t give up heart.”

  Kali shook her head. “No Maam I won’t. He’ll pull through I know. He’s tough.”

  “Had you known Buster before coming aboard?”

  “No Maam. I only really got to know him in the fight for the spaceport.”

  “Really?” asked an incredulous Rihan.

  “Yes Maam” said Kali with a smile. She sat there for a while recalling the events on the night after they secured the spaceport.

  “Bit of a whirlwind then?”

  Kali could not remember when she was last embarrassed, but embarrassed she now was. “Animal attraction!” she stated raising her eyebrows with a mischievous grin.

  Rihan couldn’t prevent herself from laughing. “What… in the rubble?”

  “It wasn’t all rubble” said Kali enjoying the banter now. “He’s a real gentleman actually.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Rihan realised they were starting to attract a bit of attention. “Well anyway I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you when he recovers.”

  “Yeah looking forward to it Maam. Thank you for coming to see me and letting me know.”

  “My pleasure Kali.”

  Chapter 9. Resolute to Polaris 2000, 29 May

  It was after dinner and Dave had asked Rihan to come back to their cabin. He wanted to discuss something in private.

  “OK I’m intrigued” said Rihan as she sat down on the bed next to Dave.

  Dave reached out and took her hand in his. “You know how we talked a few days ago about having kids.” Rihan nodded. “We’ll need to ask Yomoto about getting you a staff job on Polaris then. Is that want you want?”

  “Until I get too big to move” replied Rihan with a smile.

  Dave smiled too and then reflected on what Rihan had just said. “You’re not pregnant now are you?”

  “No but we should get cracking don’t you think.” She turned and with her free hand pushed Dave’s far shoulder to the bed. As he lay back on the bed smiling she brought her leg over and ended sitting on top of him. His hands grasped her hips and then she felt him squeezing her buttocks. She loved that.

  She undid the buttons on her blouse and he helped her take it off. She leant her head back and removed the hair pin holding her French bun together. Her long auburn curls fell to her shoulders. Dave pulled her head toward him and they kissed, first briefly but then passionately. Her tongue pushed against his and he felt his passion rising.

  He finally managed to undo her bra and she smothered his face with her breasts. She knew he liked that. He kissed and then sucked hard. Finally she pushed her torso up and rolled off him ending up on her back. In doing so she kicked off her shoes, removing her pants and knickers all in one motion.

  “How do you do that?” asked Dave.

  “What?”

  “Always end up without a stich on and me fully dressed.”

  “Let’s face it darling, you’re slowing down in your old age” she replied with a wicked grin.

  “Old age is it?”

  Rihan smiled and spread her legs. “Are you going to fuck me or what?”

  Dave shook his head. As he stood up and dropped his trousers. “You bet I’m going to fuck you.”

  Chapter 10. Resolute over Polaris 1400, 1 June

  “Polaris Control this is Resolute inbound for Tumos” hailed Ivan, who had the watch.

  “Resolute this is Polaris Control you are cleared to land. Please adhere to the assigned route.” The route appeared on the holo. It would take them over the south pole, heading north over the great southern ocean and then across the coastal plains of Artura, over the Bala Kush mountains before turning east over the Radi desert and then finally south into Tumos.

  “Wilco.” Ivan switched channels. “James, take us in.”

  “Roger that Sir” said 2nd Lt James Rao, the ship’s pilot. “I’ll have us down on terra firma in thirty minutes.” He began vectoring the big ship to the planet. As he looked out his cockpit the big globe was above him. The glare of the Polaris sun was coming from behind them, a little starboard and a little above. Even fr
om this distance the sight of the blue planet excited him. Like many of the crew he was born on Polaris. While he had seen many systems and many planets in his time this one was always special. It was home.

  Aubrey Bellard came into the cockpit and stood next to Rao’s chair admiring the view. Rao glanced at her and noted the smile and excitement on her face. He guessed correctly that she was thinking of someone she was about to see once they were down. ‘Lucky bugger’ he thought to himself. ‘She’s one classy lady.’

  Aubrey turned to James and for a moment he feared she may have telepathically caught his thoughts.

  “Beautiful isn’t it?” asked Aubrey.

  “Yes…nothing like it. Do you reckon we’ll get some leave?”

  “I’m counting on it James.”

  James nodded his head and thought ‘I bet you are.’

  Back in the command centre Ivan received a hail from Admiral Phil Yomoto wanting to speak with Dave.

  “Sir it’s the Admiral” said Ivan.

  “Good afternoon Admiral” hailed Dave.

  “You too Dave. Everything is waiting for you at Tumos. I’ll be arriving there later this afternoon. We’ll talk then. You have that rogan on board?”

  “I do Sir.”

  “Good. I won’t say anymore now. I’ll see you later.”

  “Look forward to it Sir.”

  “Oh and by the way congrats to you and your crew for a magnificent job well done. You made us all proud.”

  “Thank you Sir.”

  As Dave terminated the call, he felt the first shudder as the atmosphere began to bite against the hull. He turned to Sgt Chad Preston and asked “Keep an eye on E deck Chad.”

  “On it already Sir. We’re doing fine so far.”

  “Gunter” hailed Dave.

  “Sir.”

  “I want you to come with me when we land and brief the ground staff on these wretched Life Support Systems and the other things that need fixing.”

  “Of course, Sir.”

  Dave selected a ship wide channel. “Crew of the Resolute we are coming into Tumos for refit. We should be arriving shortly. I won’t know how long this will take until the ground staff inspect and advise. I expect the refit will take some time and that we should be able to grant everyone some leave. But Admiral Yomoto is coming to see us this afternoon and he may have other plans. In the interim we stay on board until further advised. The Admiral congratulates you all for a magnificent job well done.”

  Dave sat back in his chair as the craft slowed dramatically and the significant buffeting abated. He checked the status display and asked “Ivan can we have the shutters raised?”

  “Certainly.” The shutters were raised revealing a circular band of windows at the bottom of the dome on top of the command centre. The command centre was bathed in brilliant sunshine. For unaccustomed eyes it was dazzling at first. But they soon adjusted. The great southern ocean was below them. Bands of cloud swept over it. At their angle of descent Dave could make out the land mass ahead. It was the southern extremity of Artura the biggest of the continents.

  Dave looked around and saw everyone else in the command centre enthralled by the vista. This was a rare treat. Normally the shutters would be down to ensure cloaking was not compromised.

  Up forward James was focusing on his glide path. They were at 90K (90,000) metres and descending fast now. He switched to the ship wide channel. “Final descent everyone. Buckle up.” Without turning his head he said to Aubrey. “That goes for you to Maam.”

  Aubrey smiled. “Thanks James.” She returned and took her seat in the command centre. By the time she buckled up the altimeter read 40K. The red brown hills on the northern face of the Bali Kush were in front of them. The deathly Hollows facility was buried inside that face.

  A few minutes later James could see the runway. He eased off on the main thrusters and engaged the retros. He was still getting used to the controls, having landed the craft only twice before. He knew he was over the runway but was having to rely on the camera feeds to gauge the final descent. He tapped the vertical thrusters a little early and the craft, instead of settling regained altitude. He was annoyed at himself.

  But he waited patiently as gravity worked its magic and the craft descended again. This time he got it just right. “That’s all folks” he hailed “welcome to lovely Tumos, birthplace of the Resolute.”

  Chapter 11. Tumos 1440, 1 June

  1st Lt Maria Shriver, the liaison officer for the Deathly Hollows Facility met Dave, Rihan, Gunter and Val on the apron. She beckoned them to jump in her buggy and she whisked them out of the burning sun and into the dark cavern of the mountain.

  The sheer size of the cavern still impressed Dave on this his second visit. Maria drove the buggy at some speed along the internal road. Soon they entered the tunnel that he had recalled from last time would take them to the main complex.

  “Dr Govinda’s waiting for you along with a few other staff” advised Maria as she sped along with her hands adeptly turning the steering wheel. “We’re all keen to learn how the ship performed” and then almost as an afterthought she added “oh and to make whatever repairs are necessary.”

  Gunter in the back raised both eyes and shook his head but it was not seen by Maria as her focus was strictly on the road ahead. She swung the buggy hard and pulled up quickly into the car space reserved for her outside the main facility building. A motion activated flood light came on.

  Despite the fact that it was completely underground it looked like any of the building at Fleet HQ in Nova Vista. Once he dismounted Dave gazed up. The building looked to him like it was six storeys high but he couldn’t be sure as the top blended into darkness.

  Maria led them through the main foyer where they were each given temporary passes and then shepherded into the elevator. It was only then that Dave noted the building was in fact 10 storeys high. They got out on the ninth floor and made their way to the director’s office.

  “They’re waiting for you” said the Directors personal assistant as he waved his hand towards the door.

  The diminutive form of Dr Mani Govinda was there to greet them. “Welcome Captain, everyone please take a seat.”

  The office was huge. Mani was indicating for them to sit in the lounge area where a phalanx of other staff awaited. All up there were sixteen of them. Some were sitting on conference chairs that had been wheeled in for the occasion. Dave recognised a few of the faces from the famil training they did earlier. Introductions were made but Dave always found it hard to remember names. He rarely forgot a face though.

  “I thought I would do this here because it’s a little more comfortable” said Mani. “Harry can you please bring in the afternoon tea?”

  Harry, his personal assistant, duly went about it. Val was one of the first to grab one of the cakes from the huge coffee table in the centre. She sunk her teeth into it with obvious pleasure. Rihan gave her a half-disapproving look. Val shrugged her shoulders, smiled with her eyes but finished off the cake with the same avarice she started.

  “We’ve all heard about your great victory Captain” said Mani. “It’s all over the news.”

  Dave cringed at the thought that he might be later wheeled out before the media as some returning war hero. Mani was perceptive enough and so quickly changed tack. “Admiral Yomoto has requested we provide you with whatever support is needed to get the Resolute back in operation. It is our number one priority. However, we are also keen to learn from your experiences with the ship. But first things first. What do you need done?”

  “For starters we need a new cloaking system, life support systems that don’t catch fire, two new lightning fighters, the best part of a company of droids and the vehicle clamps in the new heavy lift shuttles need repositioning” said Dave. There was a barrage of questions coming from the staff.

  “Please” said Mani to his staff “let’s give the Captain a chance to provide some more details.”

  With a gesture of his hand Dave said “
Gunter?”

  Gunter then went on to detail what had gone wrong. Val talked about replenishment issues and the mods she wanted on the magGrab system. The staff got their turn to ask a series of questions and there was a lot of discussion about the life support systems and what could be done to address the shortcomings.

  Rihan sat there wondering why she was involved. She knew that as the XO she had to keep on top of these issues but she knew she would not be the XO for long and so felt disengaged. She found herself thinking about her own future while the voices raged around her. She hoped the doctors who had treated her after her miscarriage were right about there being no problems with her having another baby. ‘Would it be a boy or girl’ she pondered. A smile came across her face.

  Dave saw the smile and knew that she was a million miles away from the focus of conversation. He had a good idea what she was thinking about and he too smiled.

  An hour and a half later Harry interrupted with news that Admiral Yomoto had just arrived. Mani called a halt to proceedings. The officials left to go and inspect the Resolute with Gunter and Val, leaving just Maria and Mani with Dave and Rihan.

  “It’s not going to be the quick turnaround that the Admiral wants” said Mani.

  “No, I didn’t think it would be” said Dave.

  “The lightnings, droids and the cloaking system we can provide straight away but the life support systems are going to require a new engineering design solution. Dr Charles Sobon is the best in his field. But not even he can do that overnight.”

  “I understand that. I’m pretty sure the Admiral will too.”

  “What will I understand?” said Phil Yomoto as he entered the director’s office. Mani beckoned him to sit down, which he did after taking off his navy white jacket.

  As he did so Dave replied “That this refit is going to take some time.”

  Phil looked directly at Mani. “What’s your estimate?”