Stephen Nichols
As it happens, I am done my packing when the last message comes in, so I call in my steward. I ask him to ship two of the bags to the Midgard and the rest of the boxes and bags to the Loki. Then I head to the shuttle bay.
"Captain Brubacher reporting, as requested, sir." I am at attention as I bark out the announcement.
"Relax Kurt and take a seat. This is Vice Admiral Helena Leeds of Phoenix Fleet." He directs a hand in her direction.
She is a mid-thirties tall, medium colored beauty who wears a flag uniform very well. Confidence radiates from her regal bearing.
"It's an honor to meet you, Admiral Leeds," I respond with my hand extended towards her.
"It's my privilege too, Captain. You have an impressive record." She answers as she returns a warm, firm, and very dry handshake.
"Thank you, sir. I only hope I will fuel your confidence in me. I would not like to let you, Admiral Nichols, or Admiral Bryant down, ever." I respond.
"Don't worry, Captain. I'm sure you'll do just fine. Things are still a little fluid in Phoenix. They're also still changing in the OESA. The expansion isn't complete, yet. The Fifth has taken a lot of people, and many Fleets are short staffed throughout the entire service. I am sure there will be a need for your tactical skills at a Flag level soon enough.
I want to tell you right now that, there is still no Commander for your Group. Loki Group is running under the direct control of the Task Force One Commander and me. Since Loki is my Flagship, your Group is seldom without a Flag presence, but it's a lot of extra work for the two of us. I am seeking someone to fill the spot, but we're pretty diluted, right now. If the Command Chair isn't occupied when you finish the War College program, I will include you in the considerations. Just don't screw up in the meantime. That would throw a wrench in the whole idea.
I will tell you now that though I have never met you, Admirals Bryant and Nichols speak highly of your service over your ten-year history, so I am confident you will flourish." She finishes with a smile.
"Thank you, Admiral. I will try to earn those compliments, in your eyes, too." I respond.
"Very good, Captain. I think we know where we stand. I will be transferring your Command Codes in the sixteen hundred ceremonies, but you must meet with your Exec and senior staff, now. They need to know the plan for the next couple of weeks." Leeds replies.
"You're dismissed, Captain," Nichols says as he rises.
I rise. "If you'll excuse me, Admirals?" I turn and leave the room.
I shuttle over to the Loki. I am received as if I am already ensconced as the Master. My executive is a Deltan. This is a familiar situation.
"Captain Brubacher, I am Commander Elasima." The young man offers a salute with the introduction.
"I am Captain Kurt Brubacher, Commander Elasima. May I have permission to come aboard?" I respond with the standard formalities.
"Permission granted, and welcome aboard Captain."
We head to the Captain's office, first. It is much larger and more elegantly finished than the one on the Shenzhen. It has quite a large conversation area with two couches, two armchairs, and a coffee table surrounding an area rug, at the end of the room opposite the desk. It also enjoys a couple of large viewing ports.
"What do your friends call you Commander?" I ask.
" They call me El, sir."
"You may call me Kurt when we are in private. May I call you El?" I ask my Exec.
"Yes, Kurt. That would be fine." He responds.
"El, how far along are you on field testing and shakedown of the Loki?" I enquire.
"On what, sir? We have not done any field testing or shakedown, Kurt. No one has even suggested it. Is that the testing to ensure the Loki is safe and dependable?" The exec queries.
“Yes, it is known as proofing the ship, and involves intensive static testing and repairs; followed by, progressively more demanding cruises. The idea is to prove the ship is sound at conditions well beyond her normal use. That way, we'll know she is safe for standard operations and can be demanded to do more, in a pinch. No vessel is to be put into service without the proofing – it’s part of OESA Rules and Regulations.' I explain. ' It may have been completed before the Fleet accepted delivery. Can you please access the construction and ship's transfer logs?" I ask my new Exec because the necessary authorizations have not yet been conveyed to me.
“I don't see any reference to the exercise in these documents.' El explains as he quickly scans the requested records. 'Admiral Leeds must have wanted to hold off until you came.” El sounded defensive.
"Well, I'm going to be away for the first two weeks of my assignment, so you'll have to conduct the initial testing. Based on what we found on the Shenzhen, and what Admiral Nichols discovered with some of the Carriers, I have created a plan. I will let Admiral Leeds know you are operating under my orders. Testing and shakedown can take five to eight weeks, with repairs. You will run the first two weeks. The crew might hate you, afterward. It's the most labor-intensive part of the whole process. Ten days in, you will take the ship to one of a selection of planets I've cataloged. You'll give the crew a rotating three-day leave. Then you'll all return the ship to the Midgard running at point two during your jump. That excursion will be the first shakedown, but the crew will be happy with the rotating leave.
You must follow the plan carefully. There are many things to watch. We don't want to have a flaw that causes the Loki to blow up in space. We want to uncover the problems. Don't let people make up fake ones, but the more you locate, the better. There are twenty-two million moving and operating parts in this ship. Any one could be faulty. My blueprint specifies what to watch, and at what stages of the assessment. You need to break up responsibility for parts of the program. Use only those Senior Officers you are positive you can trust. If you aren't sure of one, use someone more junior that, you can rely on to handle it, and record that in your logs. Your personnel records should reflect the operation intently. When I come aboard in a couple of weeks, we should know who is capable and who is not. I don't want to leave someone in charge of a bridge watch if they are incapable of handling it. I only believe in you because your appointment was determined by Admirals Leeds and Nichols, and I have confidence in them. But others may have gotten to positions they don't deserve. This is a new ship with a green crew. And the Loki's personnel is part of the testing and shakedown, too. Our people and this vessel must operate as a unit, after this. I will also be asking Admiral Leeds to temporarily move her pennant. If something goes wrong, we don't want a Senior Admiral aboard. Are you up for it, El?" I finish.
"Yes, Kurt. I can handle it." He responds confidently.
"Good. Then, let's get the rest of the senior team in here. And, see if you can have someone get the box marked office from my quarters and bring it here. I'll start moving in now." I say.
"Yes, Captain. If you'll excuse me. I'll have everyone here in half an hour. The box will be up here forthwith." El responds.
"Dismissed!" I snap.
I spend the next five minutes scanning the office and enjoying the spectacle of the surrounding space, before being interrupted by a steward.
"...The box you requested, Captain." The attendant stands at attention in the door.
"Bring it in. Are you my steward?" I ask.
"Yes sir, I am Leading Crewman David Angstrom, and I am one of two of your day-shift stewards. You have six in all - two in each of three shifts." The Crewman responds.
"Can you keep a secret, crewman?" I ask.
"What's that, sir?" He asks.
"No. I don't have one for you. I am just asking if, you can keep one." I chuckle.
"I like to think so, sir." He responds.
"Good David. We shall see. I don't want my stewards to have to leave a room when I am in discussions with senior staff - unless I ask. I want all of you to be able to complete anything you have started. I will immediately demote and replace anyone passing information they hear in my offic
e or quarters. Is that understood, Crewman?"
"Yes sir, perfectly," Angstrom responds with a bit of a shudder.
"Pass that on to the other stewards, and to the stewards of the Senior Staff. There is an old saying from Earth's second World War that goes: Loose lips sink ships. But, it's not just the security issues I'm worried about. Loose lips can cause a lot of disruption. No one talks out of turn on this ship, or they may find themselves maintaining the heating system at one of the Academies. Tell me now if, you can't live with that. If you can, I will make you my senior steward and promote you to Petty Officer." I explain.
"Yes sir, I can handle it." David answers.
"Good. So, all the other stewards will work under your direction. I will post the promotion, right now. But, you make sure that, they all understand the rules because as their boss, you can catch hell if they screw up. Understand?"
"Yes, sir. I'll make sure they get it.” He says as I punch in the announcement. I open the safe and acquire nine sets of PO’s embroidered cloth chevrons and three jewelry sets. I hand them to the young man.
"This announcement won't appear until seventeen hundred hours. I am not officially in Command, until after sixteen hundred. However, you may tell the other stewards of the promotion and give them your orders regarding this matter. Get those insignias on your uniforms.' I explain, then continue. 'I need you to put this office into some kind of order. In the box, you will find pictures, awards and other paraphernalia that would go on the walls, table, desk, and credenza. There is also a group of items in a separate box inside the big one marked - safe. That one should be left untouched and sealed, except to deposit it inside the credenza. I must put those articles away, myself. I also need my quarters put together. Half my belongings are aboard the Midgard for the next two weeks, but I need my quarters organized, allowing for the outstanding wardrobe and personal items that will show up in two weeks. This is all stuff I'd usually do myself, but I have numerous meetings and a Theatre Nine ceremony to attend to. You are the boss, now, so you can have the other first shift steward take on some of this. Make sure he understands the rules, first. During my upcoming meeting, neither of you will be required to leave this office until you’re finished anything you’ve started. Just keep on working quietly. You may not interrupt. If you have a question, go on to something else. Ask it when the meeting is over. Is that all clear?" I ask.
"Yes, sir." He answers, then turns to activate his personal communications as he calls for his shift-one partner.
When the other appears, there is a whispered five-minute discussion during which the new PO holds out a hand to display the new insignia, and the other Crewman looks up at me - I nod. The new PO begins working in the office while the other vanishes.
Officers begin appearing at the door. I welcome them in and ask them to sit. In the end, there are nine guests, in the room. The couches, arm chairs, and office chairs are filled. I pull my desk chair over to the conversation pit. I activate my office recorder.
"We will be on a first name basis, in this office, but because I am new, I will ask you to introduce yourselves the first time you need to speak. I am Captain Kurt Brubacher the new Commander of the Loki, and you may all call me Kurt after the initial formalities have been observed. However, you may only be that relaxed in a private setting. I am Sir or Captain, out there.’ I point out the window. ‘I will also tell you that this meeting is being recorded. A transcript will go to Admiral Leeds, immediately after we adjourn.
The first order of business is that I do not officially take command of the Loki until sixteen hundred hours. At that time, all Command Codes will be deactivated. We do not want to be dead in the water, so I will send you a Senior Staff-wide memo, so you all have my mailing address. You will send back your name rank and assignment. When the codes are deactivated, I will issue new ones to you electronically. These will be prepared ahead. All I will have to do is hit "send" and all nine of you will get your new codes. Enter them immediately. Then, generate new ones for those subordinates you have who require them. Make sure you issue them at the correct level. We should have control of everything five minutes after I enter my codes.
The second order of business is security. What goes on between you and me remains among us. You do not discuss it outside in the presence of people not privy to it in the first place. I will replace any Officer who breaks that rule. You all know the OESA Rules and Regulations. If I am fomenting rebellion or being unpatriotic, it's your responsibility to report it to my superior. Otherwise, what goes on between us is for no one else, unless it goes out as a posting. Commander Elasima, I need you to stay after this meeting. We have to get the Marine Colonel in here. The navigation bridge should have a security contingent. No one should get on this bridge unless cleared and checked. Anyone not belonging here has to be invited onto the bridge. The Exec will be approved for access by me. The Shift Commanders will be authorized for access, by the Exec and they must give the security people a list of those on their shifts who are permitted on the bridge. The same goes for the Flag Bridge and the Flight Control Tower. An old World War Two expression was, ‘The value of security is self-evident. It wins the war and the peace'. I want you all to remember that. When it comes to our collective surety, we will operate this ship as if we are at war, at all times. Does everyone understand? Can you live by these requirements? If you can't, let me know now. I will transfer you to a less sensitive position and find a replacement if you can't comply.' I pause to give time for responses. I see nods of assent from everyone, so I continue.
'I am glad you all agree.' I pause for effect.
The third order of business is the testing and shakedown of this vessel - which has never been completed. El and I went back to the shipyard and transfer logs for the construction and allocation of the Loki. They never did one. I checked the ship’s logs since she was attached to Phoenix Fleet. We've never completed it. The OESA requires proofing of each and every vessel before it is put into service. More important than that, I don’t want the deck under my feet to suddenly disappear when the ship blows up. Each and every engineering, tactical, and medical installation has equipment that must function correctly, or someone may die. Even the galleys can become a hazard in battle situations. For example, if we lose a reactor and have to run another at one hundred and ten percent of maximum, we do not want to destroy the Loki. We do these trials to ensure that the ship and its systems will not fail us. We do the shakedown to be able to predict how much the vessel can take. All the while, we are trying to find her failure limits so we can employ the maximums if needed. Meanwhile, we are also tuning the staff to the vessel. The two aspects must work as a unit.
I have had experience at this. My last command was the ESS Shenzhen, and I took her right from dry-dock. I can tell you from that operation that you don't find the problems unless you look hard for them. From that and Admiral Nichols records, I have developed a manual for this procedure. It is seventy-five pages long plus appendices including testing parameters and performance reports. You will receive the entire handbook, now.' I click send on my data pad to forward the document to all nine. 'Read it all - not just the parts concerning your area. You need to know what others are doing, in case they need to ask you for assistance to facilitate their operations. This ship is an integrated unit. No one works in a vacuum.
For the first two weeks, El will take command of the process. That phase is all testing except the last step, in about ten days. That is the first light shakedown cruise. Of course, the implied schedule only applies if you don't find anything major. Something that stops the whole ship for days, or requires docking at a facility, will cause a major hiccup in the timing. The schedule is only a guideline. Even a stubborn minor problem can delay you if that assembly is needed in the next stage of testing. You cannot go on if things are already out of whack. If a major repair is necessary, stop and do it. Do not try to continue on with the testing if there is a serious issue, in any system. The timeline is less important th
an safety. No one cares if we take a little longer, as long as it means the ship won't kill anyone.
You must accurately complete the reports required, at each step. If El does not receive a report from someone during a phase of testing, he cannot go on to the next. The report must be handed to him personally. The person handling a particular task will sit with the Exec as he inserts the results into the Failure Mode Testing software that will extrapolate the failure limits of the tested area. If a test falls below the recommended failure limit, the part or system has failed. If it is up to or exceeds the threshold, the test was successful. We are trying to project a point where a system will fail, even if it passes today. Testing and shakedown are progressive. They take the vessel through increasingly challenging requirements, so it doesn't make sense to go on to the more stressful one if the one before isn't done successfully.
During this entire procedure, you will be graded, too. El will be looking at your performance and reporting - as will I when I return. You must pass this phase, too. If you do not, you will be reassigned, and someone else will fill the more senior role. This is life and death stuff, people. After this, we can work at becoming friends and shipmates. But, for now, you must prove yourselves. This ship cannot be taken into regular patrols or battle without certification from her first Captain and that Captain's Executive Officer that she is sound. It's not just the Loki and her crew. We may fail our Group or Fleet if we don't finish this task with motivation and professionalism. Everything else depends on this.
Once I return, we will take a day for me to go over all the reports, failure mode analysis, and crew evaluations. This may sound like a lot during a day, but El will be keeping me up to date throughout the testing. After that, we will disembark about fifty-five to sixty percent of the crew, at Theatre Command. This phase is done with a two shift skeleton compliment. If we demolish the Loki, we don't want to kill the entire crew. The next two to four weeks will be spent taking the ship through more and more stressful shakedown jaunts that will tax her. We will return to the Theatre to exchange some personnel or take on more, after each trip, depending on the systems we are stressing. When we are sure, the entire crew will return, and we will continue with longer and more challenging cruises until we complete the whole program.
Righteous Reign The Series: E-version Boxed Set Edition Page 35
