by Chris Hechtl
Twenty-five exhausting, nerve wracking hours later the Selkie signed off and handed control of the ship to a helms rating to continue their journey. He exited the pod to find a grateful Lieutenant Yu waiting.
“Ma'am, were you here the whole time?”
“Are you kidding me? I don't think anyone got a wink of sleep. Okay, well, maybe your fellow jarheads, but...” Janice shrugged as she handed the Selkie a cup of coffee. He took it but only stared at it, hands shaking slightly.
“I don't think I can drink it now, ma'am, I just need a rack.”
“I understand. Good job though,” she said, taking the cup back.
“Aye, aye, ma'am,” he replied, coming to attention. She smiled as he saluted her. She returned the salute. “Permission to be dismissed?”
“Go on, get out of here. Go sleep for a day or two. You've got my permission,” she said with a nod.
“Oorah that ma'am,” he said softly, beating a hasty retreat off the bridge. “Rack, here I come,” he said, ignoring his growling stomach. Okay, he thought, grab a food bar, then hit the head, then the rack....
Chapter 3
The six point five parsec jump to Briev was a bit rough; they hadn't had time to fine tune the nodes in the bow with the rest on the ship and it showed. Energy efficiency was subpar, and Chief Chowler wasn't happy about it. Nor was the ops officer.
They tried to fine tune the nodes, but some of the modifications required hands-on changes to two of the nodes so had to be put off.
They entered the jump point and then quickly reoriented for the skip jump. Renee didn't even bother to scan the inner system; they wouldn't be here long enough and she didn't want to distract her crew or take time away from the computers.
Chief Chowler focused his repair efforts on the two balky nodes, getting them squared away and his people inside with minutes to spare before their next jump. Deja made the jump quickly, this time adjusting their course in a curve around the system. There was a bit of turbulence at the end when he cut the angle a little too close to get to the next jump point leading to B452c, but the ship's systems handled it well.
Twenty-four hours after jumping to Briev they transitioned into the jump to B452c. Deja gratefully passed over the helm duty to Janice and then headed to his rack for a well-deserved downtime.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
Twelve point four days in Delta band and six point nine parsecs later the ship exited into the B452c system. The system was an empty one but a crossroads. There were no habitable planets or other structures in the system; it had never been colonized. The ship repeated it's skip in reverse, arriving at the jump point to Agnosta in twenty-three hours. Unfortunately, the skip prevented them from stripping the satellites Admiral Irons had left behind to monitor the system.
“I think we're getting the hang of this,” Janice said with a smile to the skipper.
“Well, I should hope so. We've had enough practice now,” the Captain teased with a smile. Janice snorted softly.
“Chief, are we ready to go?”
“Aye, aye, ma'am. She's as ready as we'll get her now,” the Chief replied.
“Hardly reassuring,” Janice murmured. She didn't like how the nodes were out of balance. They had been forced to take one node out during the jump to Briev, and it had left her a bit suspicious of it even after using it to jump to B452c. It seemed fine, but she still didn't trust it.
“All right, well, steady as she goes then,” Renee said, sitting back and making a passing motion with her hand.
“The star to the left and straight on to morning, aye, ma'am.”
“Neverland,” Renee replied with an amused sniff. “I remember the stories. And I think it goes...” she paused and cleared her throat. “Second star to the right and straight on till morning,” she corrected.
“Aye, ma'am,” Janice replied.
“Some navigator you are,” Renee teased as she picked up her tablet and began to read.
Janice snorted and went about her duties.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
By the time Firefly had made the next jump to Agnosta, Jethro was certain he and the trainee recruits were heartily sick of being on the ship. It wasn't the length of time that was damn near miraculous in his estimation. The Navy crew seemed to be making miracles keeping the ship not only fully functional but also on course and at her speed.
He'd overheard a bit about how Firefly could have handled the upper bands, had she had a supply of antimatter. With antimatter they could have transited the thirty-four parsecs and five jumps in 110 days, but Deja would have been in hell the entire time. Each time the Selkie returned to his rack he practically collapsed, exhausted. And when Deja was at the helm the computers were fully tasked to support him, which meant the net was laggy or offline to the Marines. The corporal said he didn't mind the load though, it was just exhausting to do it all at once. Apparently, the engineers had rigged him up some sort of water sim to make it psychologically easier and possibly even more fun for the Selkie. Jethro knew it was mentally taxing but wasn't sure about the whole fun thing. He couldn't see himself doing something like that. Not for fun.
There was only so much he could do to train the recruits. He knew he was stepping on some toes with the training; he couldn't help it. They also couldn't and wouldn't give the recruits anything more than basic ID implants. That limited things too. He couldn't do physical training exercises; there were too many Marines and not enough room on the ship.
He did know one thing. By the time they arrived in Agnosta, his trainees would know the basics of military protocol and deportment down cold. They should be squared away enough to move them at an accelerated pace, and each had been thoroughly shown the various careers paths possible. He'd identified those who would go on to possible officer training and even those who could handle accelerated promotion into the ranks of the noncoms.
Ox and Riley had even measured each of the recruits in a field trip to the armory. Those recordings were all on file, and could be updated and passed along as needed, just like their medical files.
Something told him after what had happened in Antigua and what was about to happen shortly... they were going to need the Marines—fully-trained Marines—and soon, a lot more of them.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
Doctor Standish and the medics played a prank on Jethro. Jethro was called in for a routine checkup. When he sat on the bed he fidgeted. “Just settle down. It's not like you haven't been here before,” Gusterson said from one bed over.
“What are you doing here?” Jethro asked the greyhound. The medic had been kept busy dividing his time between duty time in the infirmary and with the squad. Like most of the squad he served in several capacities on a ship.
“Didn't you hear? Routine checkup like you. Oh, and a bit of a lecture on some medical procedures,” Gusterson said, distracting him from the nurse behind the panther. Jethro's ears twitched as he heard the human female pick something up from a tray. He smelled her cloying scent; he never understood why humans liked perfumes. Now that he had actually smelled flowers, they didn't smell anything like one. And why...well, he could see some usage in the field to smell like a flower...but...
He felt something touch the back of his neck and instinctively hunched his shoulders and dropped his head down. Then there was a pinch and his body acted instinctively.
They used a clip to fold and pinch the skin on the back of his neck. “It works!” Gusterson said in admiration when Jethro's body went into a fetal curl, legs tucked up, tail tucked between his legs.
“Yeah, it works; now cut it out!” Jethro snarled, practically spitting. His ears were flat. He had a helpless sensation running through him, something he hated. He could see medics chuckling and coming over from all over the infirmary. Suddenly he felt like he was on display. He liked that idea even less. He was used to skulking about in the shadows.
“I don't know; he seems pissed,” a nurse warned.
“He can wait a minute,” Doct
or Standish said. Jethro reminded himself the doctor was technically an officer. Besides, it was a joke, one he had to take in good stride or be labeled a sore loser. The doctor took the time to lecture the attending staff on the phenomenon. Jethro was dismayed that all the medics had been pulled in, even the navy corpsman like the greyhound Gusterson who was attached to his own squad. He vowed to get even later.
Doctor Standish explained how the hardwired instinct to curl when carried as cubs could be used later in life. “It had been left alone in the Neo genetic engineering for that purpose according to the historical texts.”
Jethro was stroked by a female nurse who smiled at him. He was finally released. He was angry at first, but realized he had to accept the prank or be made to look like someone who can't take a joke. Still, he took off in disgust with a slight air of distaste for medics.
Jethro thought about it for a moment, but then decided to warn the other Neos. Some snorted in amusement. “You think it's funny now, but it is the most helpless feeling. You can see, move to some small degree, talk, but your body just wants to lie there helpless. You can see them; they talk about you like a piece of meat.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh. And you can't do a damn thing to stop them from messing with you while you're like that.”
“It's like being raped,” Harley said wrinkling her muzzle.
Jethro looked at her and then shrugged uncomfortably. “I wouldn't go that far with it. But it does mess you up a bit,” he said. He batted Sergei's meaty paw away as the Liger reached for the back of his neck. “Just remember; it's fair game now for everyone and anyone to use that trick now that it is out there. Don't be surprised if you wake up like that...”
Harley suddenly giggled, hand going to cover her muzzle.
Sergei rolled his eyes and then covered them with one hand. “Great. Good going genius, give her something else to play with.”
“Sorry,” Jethro snorted, flicking his ears. He felt oddly like his humor was restored.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
A short four parsecs and eight days later, Firefly jumped into Agnosta space. She surprised the frigate Rose on duty at the jump point by her arrival, but fortunately she didn't have a friendly fire incident.
“Pass code transmitted. Acceptance code has been received. We have been authenticated, Captain,” the com rating said. “Though they seem a bit put out over our timing for some reason,” he said.
“I don't know what the big deal is, we told them we'd be back,” Renee said in annoyance. “You'd think we're some sort of ghost.”
“Yes, ma'am, and they know we survived, after all, Fuentes and Hecate came forward. We got orders from them to return; didn't they get a copy of the movement order?” she asked. Knowing the bureaucrats in the staffing positions, she doubted it.
“And we sent those ships back. Which reminds me, they did get here right?”
“Um...”
“Check and see,” the Captain ordered, waving an imperious hand to the communication's rating.
“Aye, aye, ma'am. Querying the Rose now.”
“Rose, some name for a ship. Was it named for someone? Or the plant?”
“Roses have thorns, Captain,” Firefly replied. “The names of ships are opaque to those of use on them or, well, in them sometimes. Buships has its ways.”
“Right,” the Captain replied with a snort. “Anything?” she asked, looking at the com rating with a raised eyebrow.
“Nothing yet, ma'am,” he replied, shaking his head.
“Slow,” Firefly said.
“Even if we caught them off guard...”
“Incoming transmission. “All ships accounted for except Kiev 221.”
“That's a relief,” Janice murmured.
“Well, there we go,” Firefly replied. He studied the data. The rating on the frigate Rose had uploaded their logs since they had come on station seven months ago to relieve Hecate. The AI did a search on the Kiev 221 and found it to be a ship the Admiral had traveled on and had sent with a cargo to Pyrax. “According to my records Kiev 221 took an alternate route to Pyrax. They could be there by now. It is ten parsecs shorter.”
“But a more hazardous route,” Janice reminded him. “And no one can stop at Centennial; she's dead. No one is answering the com.”
“True.”
“Well, I'm glad we know,” Renee said, crossing her arms. “Helm, set course for the planet. Maximum speed you can squeeze out of her. Alert the Chief to do whatever he has to do. Time to orbit?”
“Three days captain,” Janice said checking her calculations twice to be sure.
“Can't squeeze anything more out of that?”
Janice shook her head silently no.
The skipper made a moue. “Well, at least the Chief will be happy; he'll have plenty of time to get what he needs to do done on the hull. So, no more excuses. I'll trust you'll pass that along?” she asked, looking at the AI avatar.
“Roger that, Captain,” Firefly replied.
“We're being pinged. It's coming from the gas giant, ma'am. Another ship is there; IFF reads her as the frigate Providence,” the com rating said.
“Huh. New faces.”
“New ships maybe, but hopefully good crews. I've read Rose's log. The two ships switch off duties and train as much as possible together. Providence has won their last two sims.”
“Good for her,” the Captain replied dismissively.
“Shall we alert the planet Captain?” Firefly asked.
Renee nodded. “Do that. Send them our log and plans. Wake them up. Hopefully we'll not have any pissing contests.”
“We've both served with Major Forth before ma'am. He's not the type to play games,” the AI replied.
“We'll see,” was all the Captain said as she sat in her chair.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
A quick stop to refuel and offload the Marines was planned for Agnosta as they made their way across the system. They would take on what parts and Marines they could, but the Captain wanted to break orbit in no less than forty-eight hours. The plan was to orbit and exchange shuttles with the ground side bases, but that changed when they came into view of the planet.
“Well, they've certainly been busy,” Renee murmured. Shelby looked over her shoulder and saw the image of the planet. She pulled it up through her own implants, frowning, not certain what she was missing until she noticed the series of space platforms and space stations. There was also a network of satellites.
She whistled softly. “Saw that eh?” The Captain asked. “See the base?”
“Which one?” Purple Thorn asked, looking up. “There are several on the island, and two on the main content now. At least, that's what my IFF is reporting.”
“Really?” Renee asked, interested. The officers looked, and then checked the civilian side of life. The sleepy towns were growing, if not as fast as the military then still quite well, clearly doing well for themselves. Most likely they were getting a major boost from the bases in the area and the pay the soldiers spent on leave.
“Obviously this system has seen a lot of traffic,” the ship AI said, pointing out the ion trails on the system plot. “Quite a lot.”
“Indeed. Good. Looks good,” the XO said. “Glad it's all working out.”
“So far,” Renee murmured.
“We're in extreme range of the planet, ma'am,” the com rating reported, looking expectantly at the Captain.”
“Wake em up comm; let them know we're coming and why. Tell them we're not going to be here long.”
“Aye, ma'am, transmitting IFF, and encrypted order package now,” the com rating replied with a nod.
“Good man.”
---( | ) --- ( | )---
They got a call a short time later. It was slow from both ends due to the time lag, but Major Forth apparently didn't care.
Major Forth had been sobered by the report of the battle. He didn't seem happy about leaving many of his best in Antigua but knew now was not t
he time to argue about it. He agreed with the plan to offload the new Marine recruits, pick up supplies, offload some of the lighter wounded, and then head on to relieve Pyrax.
“We're still two days out. I'd appreciate it if you could expedite things on your end. Sort of get the ball rolling,” the Captain said.
The Major nodded. “Can do, Captain. We'll get it done,” he said. “Send me a list. I'll get my people on it right away.”
“Thank you, Major. Uploading now,” Firefly replied.
The Major looked to one side as he waited for a response. When he got it he nodded. “Okay, got it.”
“Thank you, Major,” Renee said. She knew the Major could have easily balked, thrown any number of monkey wrenches into the plan and thrown them off their carefully crafted timetable. Of course, anything could still happen to do just that, but so far, so good.
“I'll check with my staff. It looks like an all nighter so I'll have my people put the coffee back on. I'll get back to you before you reach orbit Firefly or when you dock. Agnosta out.”
“Roger that. Firefly out,” the AI said as the rating closed the channel.
---( | ) --- ( | )---
Jethro snorted at Sergei's antics. There really wasn't much left to do, just pass on the last words of wisdom before the trainees left. Jethro checked the clock. They still had two and a half hours to go before the ship docked, apparently plenty of time for what the big cat thought were kernels of wisdom. The big liger had taken a rough liking to some of the recruits, something that surprised the other veterans. Most had held them off at arm's length as much as possible, knowing they wouldn't be around them long.
Sergei, however, had taken a liking to a few and had regaled them with stories of when they had been in boot in Pyrax and their adventures since then. Jethro had noted the wide-eyed astonished looks and had just shook his head in amusement and annoyance.
Sergei finished his last round of stories about boot under Schultz before Harley interrupted. “Now don't scare the kiddies you big lug, you know Gunny Schultz is waiting for them on Agnosta,” she said maliciously, winking at Sergei.
