Jethro Goes to War (Wandering Engineer Jethro's tale)

by Hechtl, Chris

  “Oh,” the midshipman blinked and then sat back shoulders slumping slightly.

  “A noble idea midshipman but impractical. Now getting back to this raid, we know that the enemy has a functional dreadnaught in the system. I am a light cruiser. Such a ship would tear me apart easily, even if it was crippled.”

  “Couldn't you raid the infrastructure then? Hit the yards, staging areas, fuel dumps, platforms, stuff like that? Hit and run?” Valenko rumbled, rubbing his chin.

  “A smart idea. And quite possible. But if we were damaged the ship would be trapped in the system.”

  “Oh.”

  “Also, if they came at you concentrated...” a midshipman said rubbing her own chin, eyes dark.

  “Yes, exactly. They could pin us against a planet or the dreadnaught in an englobement, cutting off retreat. They could squat on the jump point cutting off our only axis of retreat.”

  “So it could be a one way mission.”

  “In essence yes. With what we had before. And with what we currently have now. That was supposed to change.”

  “Oh. I see,” a midshipman said nodding.

  “Getting back to the subject of Admiral, excuse me, Fleet Admiral Irons, would he have gone? Into battle I mean?”

  “Most likely. Which would have been disastrous in the long term.”

  The cadets sat up, eyes wide staring at the holo. “Why?” Valenko rumbled.

  “Because his loss wouldn't just be tragic, it would be strategically catastrophic. Without him we can't build things. You understand our current limits due to his absence?”

  “I was wondering about that,” the bear rumbled, looking over to the other students. Now that he was out of boot he was getting a better handle on what was going around with the military and the system. Some of the things he saw he didn't like or didn't understand. This was one of them. It seemed silly. He looked at his classmates. Some shrugged in helplessness.

  “An engineering admiral has the key codes to manufacture anything. Well, almost anything. And to our knowledge, he is the only one left alive. If he was out fighting very little would get done here. Fortunately he had the time to lay some ground work before his premature departure,” Firefly explained patiently.

  “Oh.... Crap,” a midshipman said, eyes wide. “Couldn't he have stayed behind?”

  “Would you stay behind and send a green crew out on your largest most modern functional ship on a dicey mission?” Valenko asked dryly.

  “Some admirals would,” the midshipman said stubbornly.

  “But others like the Fleet Admiral would not. A tactical admiral wouldn't. A strategic minded admiral might.”

  “Oh.”

  “A tactical admiral like Fleet admiral T'paul or Tao or Sun li would have stripped Pyrax down to bedrock then gone after Horath with everything. An all or nothing gamble, possibly sending in a light ship in for recon before the main fleet arrived,” a midshipman said nodding.

  “But even if they had won, which is a big if, they still would have left an unknown number of pirates running around. Leaving Pyrax undefended. A purely offensive mind is not what we need,” a marine retorted.

  “Exactly. And the tactical admirals have a major drawback. Since most were command flag officers, having never served in a yard or in engineering they wouldn't have all the key codes to repair and build infrastructure like Fleet Admiral Irons can do,” Firefly informed them.

  “Crap. I forgot that,” a midshipman said shaking his head.

  “And that still leaves the dreadnaught and any other large capital ships to deal with. You don't count on a lucky shot or your enemy to be stupid. That only works in the movies. Real life you have to keep in mind the enemy is mortal, knows it, and is doing his or her best to stay alive and kill you.”

  “Ouch.”

  “But you said the Fleet Admiral wouldn't do that,” a midshipman said.

  “And he's still not here though,” another said sighing. “Tactical or strategic withdrawal?”

  “Exactly. Let me put this into perspective before we break for lunch. If I had a choice of any admiral from the war, I would choose Fleet Admiral Irons anytime. Over any one. Even Nelson, Jackson, T'paul, Oxnard, or any of the others. He's that good,” Firefly said quietly.

  “But what about his defensive mindfulness? His tendency to well, turtle?”

  “I believe you have seen his combat record. He may start on the defensive, but he knows the importance of a good offense. He knows that it is next to impossible to win on the defensive. He knows that the longer he waits, the harder and more expensive it will be to break them. The best he can do is attrive the enemy's forces and force them to hunt elsewhere while we built the weapon for the knock out punch. Which was one of his intentions no doubt.”

  “The problem with being on the defensive is the enemy decides the time and place to attack. But we needs a weapon that will get through the enemy's defenses. So he divided his efforts into setting up pockets of stability on his trip here, sowing seeds for future growth. Once here he set up a hardened system of industry to make the tools we will need.”

  “And now that that is all thrown away with his leaving?” a marine growled. Valenko shot him a look.

  “Who says it is thrown away? We're still here right?” Valenko rumbled.

  “Correct,” Firefly responded. “And we can continue on. Most likely Fleet Admiral Irons will set up in another system. One similar to us that he can forge into another industrial center. He has an incredible knack for that. Once he does he will no doubt make contact with us. Once that happens we will be able to coordinate efforts to end the pirates and continue operations.”

  “Oh.”

  “Don't worry. When we get things back on track we will take the fight to Horath. On that you have my word.”

  “I'm for that,” Valenko growled. A few others nodded or growled in agreement.

  “Wait, what about Prometheus? The fleet factory ship the yard was building? I heard scuttlebutt that he was going to go out on it right?” a young midshipman asked.

  “It was part of his plan. To go out with Firefly along Destiny's route and help the local populations build up their industry while setting up additional bases for us to use. Beyond that I can't go into the plan. It may still be activated at a later date.”

  “But that still brings back my point. While we're dithering, it gives them time. Time we may not have in the long run,” the midshipman who had brought the point up earlier said doggedly.

  “Best is the enemy of good,” the red haired middy who had brought up the subject before said. He smiled, happy that he had found the quote.

  “Correct midshipman. Voltaire. Terran, Dictionnaire Philosophique circa 1764. It is usually quoted as 'The perfect is the enemy of the good.' “ Firefly said.

  “And that means?” a midshiman asked blinking in confusion.

  “It means that the best solution may end up being less effective than a solution that is almost as good but not perfect. Sometimes we have to shoot from the hip with what we have. You don't want to give the other side to much time to prepare. So sometimes you have to go with what you've got. I believe you organics say whatever works?” Firefly asked.

  “Oh.”

  “But if you go in blind, then you're in serious trouble.” Valenko nodded. “Which is why the Fleet Admiral was laying the ground work just in case.”

  “Exactly. The Fleet Admiral was taking the long view, preparing for a prolonged campaign. By setting the ground work here, and in other systems he was setting up not only the eventual defeat of the Horath pirates but a new Renaissance of civilization that will grow in the quadrant from the ashes of the old.”

  “I love the idea. But it still leaves Horath dictating the time and place to strike,” the red haired middy said with a grimace.

  “Which is a problem. One wiser, higher ranked people are concerned about. Let them focus on that. We have other issues to deal with. I believe that is the lunch bell. I will see you tomorrow or
in your next class.”

  Jethro tore into his steak, chewing thoughtfully as he tried to digest. Oh, not just the food, but the classes he was taking. And now he was informed he had to do guard duty shifts as well. He was going to have to hold up a wall in the evenings all too soon.

  “Why the do the grunts need implants?” a voice said loudly in the galley. Letanga wrinkled his nose but kept eating. Jethro looked up and then shook his head.

  “Seriously,” a hand smacked onto the panther's shoulder. “Why do you need them?”

  “Because we need to use equipment like you?” Jethro asked. “Besides, we get to see further, and take more damage,” he said brushing the hand off.

  “That's true. Leave it alone Kenderson.”

  “Hell no. I'm just getting warmed up,” the crewman said with a grin. He was big, broad shouldered and built tough. Letanga looked up, gave a disinterested sniff and then went back to tearing into his steak.

  “Why do you need implants?” Jethro asked, trying to turn the tables. “Sure you need to jack in, but all the data can be seen on a holo or LCD anyway right?”

  “So?”

  “So why do you need enhancements?” Shiku growled. “I need them to see what I need to see but you?”

  “Let it go man,” another crewman urged.

  “No way, these jar heads need to be put in their place man. Like now.”

  “Sure. You think you can do that?” Jethro asked, smiling a nasty smile. His bared teeth made the other swabbies blanch a little. Of course it could have been the bits of blood and dripping blood on them that did it. He held up a hand paw and then flexed each claw in turn.

  “Tell me, did you run the course?” Shiku asked, darting a warning look to Jethro.

  “What that? Kids play,” the guy said in disgust.

  “Which one?” The fox asked, sitting back.

  “There was more than one?” Kenderson asked looking around.

  “Sure. Did yours have snipers, bombs, and traps?”

  “Ah... no.”

  “Oh. So you got the baby course. The one we got the first day of training,” Letanga growled a laugh. “We ran that for a week before we passed it to the next level. It got boring.”

  “When you can run the crucible then you can do our job. So I tell you what. You do your job, we'll do ours,” Tungulria growled from a nearby table. His eyes locked onto the big spacer.

  “Yeah, sure,” the spacer said, suddenly backing off. Letanga growled a laugh, flicked his ears, and then yawned, stretching and flexing. He was making a show of it Jethro realized. His claws bit into the table top. He kneaded it a little, making everyone in the room wince a little at the sound of claws on metal. “We done?” he asked. The others nodded.

  “Lets go then, we've got a test this afternoon.” They got up and left. Jethro was the last out. His ears flicked as he glanced back to see the spacers tracing their fingers over the claw marks. “Damn man, in almost a centimeter. Don't piss them off Kenderson. You do, you are on your own man, I ain't no one's scratching post. Last thing I need is for one of them to tear my throat out 'cause you put your damn fool foot in your mouth. Leave 'em be man. Just leave 'em be.”

  “Yeah,” Kenderson said a little shaky. “I think I'll do that.” Jethro snorted softly as he followed the others down the corridor.

  Chapter 14

  “This all?” Jethro asked, looking around the eight person group. Sergei was with him, as was Hurranna. They were turning into a trio. He was hoping more along the lines of the three musketeers over the three stooges.

  “Yup, looks like it,” Hurranna said counting. “Eight. Most they do in a fitting.” She nodded, touching the access panel. The door to the morgue opened. “I'm curious how they can do this. I thought the system was locked out? No more suits built?”

  “Not everything apparently.” Jethro replied with a shrug.

  “Apparently not,” Sergei said with a shrug. “How'd your training go?”

  “It was... Different,” Jethro said as the hatch opened.

  “A lot of VR and class work like the rest of us you mean?” Hurranna asked.

  “Something like that,” Jethro admitted.

  “Well? What'ya standing around out there for? Get in here!” A snippy voice called. Shrugging they filed in.

  The burly man turned in time to catch the first two people in, the two heavy worlders Miles and Asazi. He nodded. He started to scowl when Hurranna followed, then Jethro, and the Veraxin Chirby, and then the neo chimp Betty. But his eyes went wide and he backed up and started to swear as first Sergei, then Ox came in.

  “Oh no, Oh hell no!” he said holding his hands to his head. “What the hell was the major thinking?”

  “Problem?” Jethro asked, giving the armorer an amused look.

  “Yeah, I'll say problem. Big problem. Big ass problem.” He shook his head. “Damn, damn, damn,” he muttered. He half sat half fell onto the stool behind him. They winced at the scraping sound it made.

  “Yeah, we get that a lot,” Sergei said with a snort. He gave Ox an amused look and then stage whispered. “Think we should tell him you’re the runt of your family?”

  “I think you just did,” Ox rumbled a laugh.

  “Oh hell,” the armorer turned to the Veraxin. “Someone must really not like me today.”

  “Think of it as a challenge,” Jethro said with a tight lipped smile and amused ear flick.

  “Yeah,” the armorer snorted. “Challenge right,” he grimaced. “The good news is we've got a lot of humanoid armor. Most of it was left over from the old war,” he grimaced. “You're heavy's right?”

  Miles and Asazi nodded.

  “Yeah, thought so. Yeah, you're covered. Got two I can fit you for. The chimp.” He grimaced and then looked up. Jethro realized he was accessing his HUD. That still took a little getting used to.

  “Yeah,” the armorer said slowly after a moment. “Got that too. One. It's got a missing left arm and leg though. We'll have to replicate it. Got two actually, the other's got a missing power core. I suppose we can cannibalize one suit to get the other working, but since you're about the same size as the girl kitty...”

  “Won,t work,” Hurranna said shaking her head.

  “Huh?” The armorer asked, looking confused. “Why not?”

  “We tend to move on all fours. Also my legs and feet are longer than hers. When I walk upright I walk on the balls of my feet. Also, her arms are longer than mine.” She pointed out the differences, modeling her own body. The simian smiled a closed lipped smile and stretched her short leg out like a runway model would, then made a muscle with one arm.

  “Crap,” the armor grimaced. “Okay that's out. I thought we had Neo cat and Veraxin armor in the database but apparently just the maintenance manuals, not the specs. Rob Peter to pay Paul it is then. You’re going to have to be a fab' job. As are the rest of you lot. From scratch.” He looked at the other cats, the Tauren, then the Veraxin.

  “Hell, I don't even know where to start with you,” he grimaced.

  “Start at the beginning. Finish at the end,” Chirby said, waving his eye stalks in different directions. He danced in place on all four legs.

  “Yeah, funny,” the armorer sighed. “You are going to be a long term project,” he said waggling a finger at the alien. “I'm going to outfit those I can then I'll get to work on your suit miss.” He nodded to Betty. “The rest of you lot, come with me.” He motioned them to follow to a booth around the corner. It was a tiny closet affair.

  “We've got your measurements on file somewhere, but we need a bit more here. I'd normally set you up in here, but you big guys can't fit.”

  “Yeah,” Sergei said dryly.

  “So, we're going to do the others. I'll show you how to do it, then you run the system while I pull the suit's I've got on hand,” he looked at Jethro and Hurranna.

  “Sure,” Jethro nodded.

  “It's simple. Here,” the armorer said. He pointed to Hurranna. “Up you get.�
� He pointed to the box. She nodded and got inside. “Strip and then wait. The floor is a turntable. It'll spin you around as lasers measure you. Then you'll do exercises in it. Jumping jacks, knee bends, toe touches, and stuff. It's to get your joints and range of motion mapped.”

  “Okay,” she nodded and closed the door.

  He turned to the console and then back to the class. “Anyone know where this tech came from?”

  Jethro shook his head. Ox snorted. They looked up to him. “Games.”

  “Go to the head of the class,” the armorer said nodding. “Video games. They created this to scan people so they can use them in video games. See the early ones would have you in a nylon skin suit and a tech would attach white ping pong balls to your joints so the computer would create a skeleton of your body. Nowadays we got software that can figure it out all on its own.”

  “Cool,” Jethro nodded.

  “See we need the movement stuff so the computer can figure out where your joints are so it can create a custom suit. That way you can move in it without running into too many problems.” He looked up to the bulkhead. “I hope,” he said feverishly. Jethro shot the others an amused smile and flick of his ears.

  “So what about us?” Ox asked. “I obviously can't fit in that thing.”

  “No. Not going to happen. I don't know. Let me check the manual,” the armorer grimaced. “I think we'll have to make a temporary booth out here.” He waved to the room. “Or out there. I don't know. I kinda skimmed that part.”

  “Wishing you hadn't now?” Jethro asked dryly.

  “Yeah, you could say that,” he grimaced. “Also wishing I had called in sick this shift. Hell this week.” He shook his head. “Okay, once she's done it will green light here. If it's a good file, it'll be green and this will list the data. Never mind that, you're not up for it. Just hit this here save when it comes up, next, then click finish and then have her exit. Get the next person in and then they will start the system by telling it they are ready. Repeat for the rest.”

  He gave the panther a look. “Think you can handle it?”