After lengthy discussions, it was determined that Boots would begin practice operations immediately. The four Captains with the reduced crews were called in and advised of this independent of the rest of the Fleet. They were asked to keep an eye on their people and told they could be excused from these exercises every once in a while to take off the pressure. They all seemed to feel, that if it didn't go beyond the two months, they could handle the load with the reduced crew. Bryant expressed to the other members of the senior team that, it would be a real test of leadership. He discussed this with his Task Force Commanders. Which of these Captains knew how to get more out of his people without killing them. And, which ones knew when enough was enough and were not too proud to say so. He did not want to pass this down to the Group Commanders. It would be a test for them, too. Let's see which ones can spot the people who can go all the way, and who will know when to call it quits. Both are signs of good leadership. What you don't want in a ship's Captain or Group Commander is a person who will drive on, regardless of the condition of his people.
Over the next two months, Boots ran continuous exercises while completing patrol assignments, as they brought the Fleet up to full compliment. Two of the short staffed Frigates made it all the way without disrupting their crews. Both Captains worked at giving individual people supplementary relief as they saw them in need. One of the other Captains did ask to opt out of one exercise and one patrol mission, using the three days to rest the entire crew. The final one really blew it. He drove his team to near mutiny. Several asked for transfers just before the last newcomers arrived and a few made similar requests after they were at full staff. To his credit, it was the Group Commander Evan Aldridge who saw this coming and advised Task Force Command. Stevens replaced the Captain with the Executive Officer and took the ship down for several days’ rest, notifying Bryant, he was a Frigate short for that period. To his credit, it was Nichols who advised his Frigate Captain to rest a crew before any problems developed. Upper echelons would not know of the Captain's own abilities, for a while, but Nichols value rose dramatically. In exercises, Nichols had also proved his tactical superiority to all other Group Commanders in the Fleet. Whether on offense or defense, his Group always overcame its opponent. In Group or Task Force operations they were constantly the best. Bryant called in Grace.
They decided to keep a close eye on Stephen. He would be ripe for early promotion. He had superior tactical skills, excellent management capabilities, and was a great leader. They would not want to hold him back, they decided. When review time came, they would recommend promotion, even if there were no openings in the Fleet. He seemed so good, it would be a shame to hold him back by waiting for a Boots opening.
Chapter 10 Justice
Tuesday August 14, 2255
"The mind is everything. What you think you become." Buddha
We are on our way back to Theatre Command which is still at Rho. Admiral Nichols, on advice from his JAG Officer, decided to send a small vessel with a team of investigators. They felt we could document the privateers’ crimes well enough to make our point in court; so, they did not send a ship large enough to assist in towing any large objects.
I expressed my concern to the Marine Captain in charge of the team. My feeling was that the destroyed cargo vessel was splendid proof to return to the courts. It showed the scarring of the attack and was full of blood evidence. He agreed, so I spent the next day with my engineering people discussing how we could tow the left-overs of the cargo carrier without damaging the Shenzhen.
Lt. Cmdr. Chatz, my Chief Engineer, came up with a towing rig for the job. Rigs already existed, but the hauler was in rough condition, and its irregular shape would create a lot of shearing force in a vortex. His rig was an adaptation of the standard one that would make the connection between the two vessels a little more secure and flexible. He advised that the engines would not be able to handle this load during a non-stop trip to Rho. I decided to break the voyage into two jumps. We would head to Sigma Corona Borealis and park for a day to allow him to do some checks and maintenance if necessary. Then we'd jump to Rho. In all, the trip would be a little longer at just over thirty-three light years, but the break would ensure the reliable performance of the vessel and the safety of its crew. Sigma1 Corona is a remarkable five-star system with a beautiful planet orbiting Star 1 slightly into the warm section of its Goldilocks' zone. The planet is a water one with vast uninhabited island continents. The second and third stars in the system are somewhat brighter and form a very close binary system that is the center of this trinary. The pair emits intense radio waves generated by their volatile interaction, which may be the reason for the lack of insect and animal life on the planet. It is lush with self-pollinating and rhizome producing plants. A relatively wide variety of simple fish and water mammals exists in its waters, which are incredibly clean and pure. Testing during previous visits found no parasitic, prion, viral, or bacterial components in the water that are harmful to humanoid life. Some of my crew will be able to spend a day enjoying the pristine beaches that are widespread along the vast coastlines. There are limited mountain ranges and no genuine cold zones, except those above twelve thousand feet elevation. The planet is shielded from cosmic radiation by a relatively thick ozone layer and a formidable magnetic field indicating an active core. It is safe for visits of up to a month. Permanent residence is not recommended without proper shielding against the intense radio waves.
At the moment, we are in the opening stretch of the first jump. We entered the aperture an hour ago. We'll make our one-day stop in paradise in three days fourteen hours, from now. In the meantime, the crew has lots to do. We have the remains of the freight hauler in tow. Our forensic team is scouring the large sections of some of its cargo modules we have aboard. The Shenzhen's Marines are guarding prisoners in our brig. We also have some of the victims aboard as guests. One is still in our sick bay. The investigation team's small craft fills a shuttle bay, and that unit is aboard as additional invitees who are assisting in our analysis. We are intensely monitoring all systems because of the extra load, and scanning surrounding space in cyclic sweeps to ensure we do not add any new issues to the existing ones. Besides all of that, there is the urge to make our guests feel at home, so those involved with them spend extra time to ensuring they're content.
Then, there are the regular duties we have to perform. In my case, it's running my own bridge shift, reading each and every crew's report, updating ships logs, and sitting with my senior staff once a day for evaluations and personnel appraisals. And, that doesn't include the junior officer training I have to do once a week. In fact, it's time to do it right now.
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"Group." Someone hollers as I enter the room.
"Rest easy!!" I call out before anyone can move.
"Does anyone have any observations to make about last week's session and handouts?' I ask.
'Yes, Ensign," I respond to the young lady with her hand elevated.
"Sir, it sounds like the wedding was truly unbelievable!" She observed with tears in her eyes. It's still a girl thing.
"Ensign, unbelievable is an understatement. I was there. So, I can assure you that I will probably never experience anything like it again. First of all, the Admiral's wife is a remarkable beauty with an incredible personality. I know what you're all thinking - she really raked me over the coals, in my early days at Boots. But, in all honesty, I would marry her, if I could. She gushes warmth, life, enthusiasm, and empathy in the most genuine way. She was absolutely the most enchanting bride I've ever seen. She was the one Officer not in dress uniform. Banerjee made her an incredible gown. It was white with off white panels that had a barely noticeable bluish tinge to them. There was a short train that followed along on the floor, and the dress was hooded instead of veiled. Otherwise, everyone wore full Mess Uniforms with lanyards, braids, and swords. The whole ceremony was like something
out of a fairy story. From there, the bride and groom went to a small gathering with the wedding party and the senior Admiralty.
I was not in that room. But, I heard the Emperor made his friendship and trust of the wedding couple well known. And of course, there was the reception to beat all of them. Held aboard four Carriers, over twenty thousand were served by the time it was over. You could imbibe every kind of exotic food and beverage found in the Empire and a few from other worlds. What impressed me the most was the effort those two spent to ensure they made all of us feel they were thankful for our attendance. It was like work for them. They conducted two one-and-a-half hour visits at each reception. I think they labored very hard to appear to have a good time to make us all feel indispensable. They only had the day after as a honeymoon. The following day was spent with family and close friends. They must have been fatigued when they returned to work the day after that. The other thing that amazed me was the extremes they went to for all the guests. People were shuttled forty light-years and back. Four galleys worked double crews for double shifts to serve everyone the ultimate buffet. But, you know what was really important.' I pause to look around and take in the quizzical expressions. 'It was the ultimate love they continually showed each other throughout all this mayhem. And, you can still see it today, if you are lucky enough to be in the presence of both at the same time. Don't forget, he is a full Admiral responsible for six hundred thousand people and incredible defensive power, and she is a Vice Admiral with ten thousand throughout the service at her beck and call. And yet, they are the most genuine human beings I know today. There is nothing arrogant about either of them. They are warm, fun, and understanding. In their minds, the OESA works because of all the people subordinate to them, not because of them. They both feel they are only there to steer things in the right direction. Admiral Bryant continually says that individuals tend to do the right things - if you give them the opportunity and you've trained them properly." I stopped for a question.
"Which Admiral Bryant says that, sir?" A young Ensign asked.
"Both, now. But, I think Admiral George Bryant originated the idea. Anyway, I'm off on a tangent. Are there any other questions about the last history lesson?"
"Yes, sir.' A young man paused to gain the attention of the class. 'You are saying that Admiral Bryant is responsible for the four Group system we use today throughout the service and that Vice Admiral Bryant created this splendid counseling service we enjoy today?" The Ensign observed in a questioning tone.
"Yes, I am. And there's much more to come. He is responsible for some even more inventive organization we take for granted, today, and Marie Bryant changed attitudes that were pervasive in the OESA and even in overall society at the time. We take for granted the change she precipitated and live with it like it always existed.
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Though Boots was already running patrols and Fleet exercises by then, George sent a message to Theatre and Quadrant Commands that they would engage in normal operations on September 15, 2248. He advised both Commands that his staff recovered information on the history of previous patrols and would follow those patterns throughout the first three months of 2248. This would allow him to prepare a relative report comparing efficiency after the expansion against proficiency before. He would concentrate on providing two data channels for them. The first would parallel individual mission competencies. The second would liken Fleet skills over the entire period.
Admiral Bryant knew that the Quadrant Commanders, and C&C especially, would need these numbers to justify the continuation of the expansion throughout the OESA. He was aware that they would be in the clear for a while longer. But, he also knew that the legislators and bean counters would begin to question the whole idea as time wore on and costs continued to mount.
He added a second report based on a compilation of Commodore Nichol's findings during quality control, operational, and failure analysis testing and during shakedown cruises. This would allow the C&C to order the additional assets with the required changes already incorporated in the finished machinery. Though the ships would cost slightly more, up front, the final price would be significantly reduced.
They were on their way to 14 Hercules on September 15, 2248. They would jump into it, assess it, and establish a base of operations for the first patrol cycle. Two Groups would be detached to go to Rho Corona and Eta Corona Borealis dual system and the other two would engage all the space in the center of this triangle which was roughly ten light years on each side and three and a quarter parsecs in height. There are twelve systems of all types within the boundaries of this wedge, including but not limited to, Hip 83389, Wolf 9564, Ross 640, and several more. This will be a concentrated mission. Columbia will work its way out from 14 Hercules, while Grenada spirals out from Eta Corona. El Salvador would start at Hip 83389 and Dominica would center at Chi Hercules. It will be interesting to see how quickly this patrol can be completed working from four distinct points.
Boots Fleet parked outside the 14 Hercules system at thirteen hundred hours on September 18. Columbia entered to ensure the system was quiet with the three other Groups at the ready. Once it was declared secure, the three other Groups jumped out. Columbia studied particular landmarks and potential hiding places in the system for another ninety minutes before leaping to L 1489-5. It's a small orange main sequence dwarf star that's the mother of four planets in orbit around it. One has a pre-space industrial humanoid species that is centered on a warrior type culture that has been handed down for a couple of millennia. Nichols keeps all Columbia personnel off the planet since it is considered a great and honorable accomplishment to kill potential threats or trespassers on sight. His object in a system like this is to ensure no space-faring parties are using it for the illicit purposes.
Today, Nichols demonstrated a new concept he developed to improve patrol efficacy. In both systems, he has proven how efficiently he can use the tools at hand. Ships are detached to examine atypical interests but are never out of sensor or weapons range. He never allows any single vessel to get more than a hundred and fifty million miles from the Columbia. It’s a distance that would permit the Carriers to get to any of the vessels in less than ten minutes, without jumping. The Columbia becomes the center of a spiraling ball that completes inspection of an entire system in around ninety minutes. These maneuvers require constant navigation plotting and course corrections and beg the utmost attention from the helm. But, they allow completion of a comprehensive inspection very quickly. The whole waltz is complicated by the obstructions that must be avoided. To accomplish the feat, they also require the same kind of detail from the Columbia’s sensor department, which takes control of, and maintains, all vessels’ short-range sensors in their relative positions, throughout the exercise. He has effectively envisaged how to utilize his Group like a single four hundred-million-mile diameter vessel circulating through a system. Long-range sensors are less of an issue because of their distance from the flotilla, but still, require coordination as the Group moves through its patrol. Bryant was amazed. He considered himself relatively intelligent, bu, knew it was not likely he would have ever considered doing a patrol in this manner. He would speak to Grace when her two Groups were rejoined.
Columbia finished her five assignments in less than ten hours and jumped back to 14 Hercules. There it waited alone for the others to return. El Salvador returned five hours after Columbia. Stevens reported to Bryant. It was pretty standard stuff.
"Tom, I saw something really cool while we were on patrol. Come over to the Columbia when Grace gets back. We all need to talk about it." He signed off.
"Commodore Nichols, can you give me a file of your entire Group's course movements, over your five assignments, please? Bryant requested of the man at the Group Command station on the same bridge.
"Aye Admiral. You'll get it in five minutes. Is there a problem?" Nichols asked.
"Not for you Commodore,
but the rest of us have some reevaluation to do," Bryant responded with a chuckle.
Grace returned on the Grenada a couple of hours later. Bryant asked her to shuttle over and meet with him and Stevens. The Dominica arrived an hour after that.
"Well gang, you are not going to believe what I saw today. Just when I thought there was nothing new I could learn about Fleet and Group patrol missions, someone teaches me a lesson." Bryant was laughing as the other two looked at him quizzically which made him laugh all the harder. This started them snickering too, though they didn't know why. Laughter is infectious.
He clicked on the icon of the navigation file Nichols forwarded and selected it to be played in Objective Mode. That means they would view the motion from outside of the Group. When it was ready, he turned to them.
"Watch;' he motioned his head to the graphics in the air above his desk. 'You won't believe what you're seeing." He finished as he activated the file and they watched five ship-shaped icons and hundreds of sensor ones spiral through the space of a star system - then reset to another location and repeat the pattern.
"What the hell is that? What are we looking at?" Stevens asked as he and Grace peered into each other’s eyes in wonder.
"This is a Group doing a patrol in five different systems. Watch it again. They can generally complete the entire operation in ninety minutes without missing a cubic millimeter of space." Bryant answered with a chuckle as he restarted the video.
Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition Page 21
