Galactic Council Realm 2: On Duty

by J. Clifton Slater

  I didn’t need to walk more than four steps to reach the mini repair tug. It was tucked under the tail end of the GunShip. After attaching a cart with alloy plates, I climbed into the cramped compartment of the tug.

  It took me two hours to weld the plates to the exterior skin. Most of the time it was on automatic. Jerking me around as if I were in an under powered Shuttle during reentry. At last the final hole was sealed and I guided the mini tug back to the small flight deck.

  “J-Pop to Bridge,” I called once I’d untangled my body from the work tug, “Exterior repairs are completed. Request permission to seal GunShip Two’s hanger.”

  “Bridge to J-Pop, permission granted,” Blomma replied.

  The warning lights and alarms stopped as the side of the Patrol Boat closed and locked into place. Another hour of welding the interior of the elevator and I could finally turn my attention to the GunShip. While the far wall had stopped the enemy rounds from penetrating deeper into the Patrol Boat, they had passed through the GunShip. It was riddled with through and through holes.

  My assigned craft wasn’t flight worthy. The holes in the skin could be sealed. I could do that easily. It was the jagged scar across the ion wall created by a round which also destroyed three of my ten ion cannons. I began patching holes in the skin while cursing the futility of my efforts.

  An hour later, I pushed through the maintenance area hatch and laid the three damaged ion cannons on a work bench. Hana walked over and set one of his industrial size cannons next to them.

  “You want to play whose is bigger?” I asked pointing to my three ion cannons that barely had the mass of one of his.

  “The grooves on the base are deep,” he observed pointing to the pivot base on the GunShip ion cannons, “How bad is the ion wall?”

  “A pronounced furrow across the face,” I explained, “It not serviceable. Figured I’d repair the cannons, just to have them complete. Once we get to Command Station, they’ll install a new wall.”

  “You work on those,” he said absent mindedly gesturing to my ion cannons, “I’ll have a look at your ion wall.”

  He walked away and rummaged through a few cabinets. With his arms full, he left me to install new filaments and diodes. Before fitting in the new parts, I remembered to set and match the gaps in each; basic details when doing bench work. An experienced Master Chief had taught that to me.

  “Piran. Hana. Can someone come relieve me from Bridge watch?” Blomma called.

  I realized he’d been on duty for six hours. Hana wasn’t back from looking at my GunShip, so I answered.

  “On the way Lieutenant,” I said as I tightened down the last clamp.

  The three ion cannons were buffed out, patched and had new filaments and diodes. It was too bad I didn’t have a functioning ion wall for them. I shoved my ion cannons to the back of the work bench, wiped my hands clean and headed for the command deck.

  “Lieutenant Blomma. You are hereby relieved from the Bridge,” I announced.

  “Aye, Lieutenant Piran,” he replied, “You have the Bridge.”

  “I have the Bridge,” I said. Having finished with the protocol, I added, “Go get some chow and rest. Hana’s busy and I’ve finished everything I can on the GunShip.”

  Blomma strolled through the hatch and I caught a glimpse of the quad deck before the hatch closed. Three years ago, it would have been my domain. The GunShip in the aft section was mine, now, and the Bridge watch as well.

  The command deck of the Swanhilde was a raised area. Behind me was a small hatchway leading to the Captain’s suite. I stepped to the Command chair and scrolled through the latest messages. There were a few, mostly replies to supply requests.

  On one side of the chair, the weapons center’s screens were lit up showing the exterior of the Patrol Boat. The other side was a mass of small screens and key pads. It was all dark awaiting the Navigator to fire it up and run the calculations. I didn’t envy Blomma and the pressure of performing under the critical eye of our Captain.

  Bridge watch while in port was boring. I idled away the time scanning the planet Station’s radio traffic. With a Heavy Cruiser in the system, the traffic was heavy but routine. Then, it wasn’t.

  “Patrol Boat, Swanhilde. Be advised that we are moving into your shadow,” a call came over the radio, “This is the Galactic Navy Frigate, Reina de la Adosinda, acknowledge?”

  The Reina de la Adosinda, the Battle Queen, moving into our shadow meant she was docking between the Patrol Boat and plant Station. This was a pain for two reasons. One was the longer travel time for our crew when they flew back. With the huge Frigate in the way, the Shuttles would take twice as long to get to our ship. The other pain was our radios would have a delay as our signal needed to go out to a com satellite before bouncing back to the Station.

  I was only a Lieutenant and the Bridge crew on a Frigate would probably out rank me. There was no way I could lodge a complaint.

  “Frigate Reina de la Adosinda. Patrol Boat Swanhilde acknowledges,” I responded.

  Galactic Council Naval Frigates was the biggest weapon’s platform in the Navy. A Frigate had 360 degrees of offensive and defensive missiles, torpedoes, rockets, mines, big guns and machine guns in equal measures. The ship could put out an envelope of horror. Plus, the ship had a blue ion External engine. The 26 cannon ion wall used for acceleration, deceleration and maneuvering, made a Frigate as fast as a Clipper ship.

  If a Frigate had a flaw, you’d have to reach far to find one, it was the turning radius. Like a Clipper, the powerful ship was amazing in a straight line. But, to turn it, the Frigate needed to change its heading by executing a series of small arcs.

  The screens at the weapons station darkened as the bigger ship eased alongside the Patrol Boat. I had to adjust the radio so we were connected to a communication’s satellite.

  It wasn’t long after I notified the Station about our new com-link that I received a call from Commander Millaray Lunes, my 1st Officer.

  “Lieutenant Piran. I want the situation remedied,” she ordered after the delay, “Captain Viljami needs access to her ship. I will not have our Captain inconvenienced. Am I being clear?”

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll look into it,” I responded even though I didn’t have a clue how to reposition the Patrol Boat.

  “Research isn’t the answer. This demands action,” she replied, “Lunes, out!”

  I tapped into the plant Station’s system after the Commander’s call. The traffic plan to park all the naval ships, Clippers, Sloops, Yachts, cargo rings and tugs at first was a confusing maze. After a little studying, a pattern emerged.

  Each ship was parked on a plane with enough room to pull ahead and move up or down. There were layers of open space between the rows of space crafts. Some additional analysis plus a review of radio traffic and I realized the Reina de la Adosinda had purposely chosen to block the Swanhilde. She was in our shadow because the Frigates’ Captain wanted to block our communications and create a longer flight from the Station.

  “Plant Station flight control,” I called, “The Galactic Council Navy Patrol Boat Swanhilde requests permission to reposition.”

  “No problem Swanhilde,” the voice replied, “I’ll have a plotted course to a new docking row for you in three days.”

  “Negative on a new plot,” I said, “How about a new position on our current row?”

  “We can hold tug traffic, launches and incoming traffic for your row,” Flight Control advised, “with a two-hour notice.”

  “Thank you Control. I’ll get back to you,” I replied.

  I spent a few more minutes with the parking map seeing if my ideas would work.

  “Lieutenant Hana, please report to the Bridge,” I called.

  The engineer appeared several minutes later.

  “What’s up?” he asked strolling through the quad hatch, “Do you need relief?”

  “No, what I need is the Internal drive at 5%,” I replied.

  “And you are tak
ing the Swanhilde where?” he asked, “Can’t get far at that power.”

  “Where I want to go is sidewise,” I said pointing at the hull in the direction of the Frigate and the Station beyond.

  “You know we can’t move sidewise,” he explained, “We can angle laterally, but there seems to be a large ship in our way.”

  “What if I hooked up GunShip 1 and used it as a tug to guide us?” I asked, “Could you angle us under the Frigate?”

  “Not with GunShip 1,” he replied.

  “Why not?” I asked.

  “You aren’t authorized to pilot GunShip 1,” he replied with a stern look on his face.

  “Hana, I’m not authorized to reposition this Patrol Boat,” I admitted, “Why wouldn’t I use GunShip 1?”

  “Ha, got you. Because your GunShip is repaired,” he said laughing.

  “Did you just made an engineer style joke?” I inquired.

  “Yes, got you,” he said with as much charm as his mechanically attuned personality would allow.

  Three hours later, with towlines attached and, the unfunny, but efficient Lieutenant Hana on the patrol boat’s Bridge, we moved under the Frigate. On the far side of the Navy ship, we passed under a Clipper ship. Finally, I angled up and towed the Swanhilde to its new birth in the row.

  As I flew back to the GunShip’s landing berth, I noticed Hana increasing the altitude of the Patrol Boat.

  “Bridge, why the adjustment?” I radioed.

  “Our initial position blocked the Clipper’s radio transmission to the Station,” he replied, “We now share the space so both of our ships have direct com-links to the Station.”

  I didn’t want to tell him the new position meant that between the Clipper and the Patrol Boat, the Reina de la Adosinda was blocked from direct contact with the Station. They might be displeased with the formation.

  Chapter 6

  We found out a short time later just how upset they were with our new position.

  A Shuttle from the Frigate docked with our Patrol Boat. Through the air lock stormed a Navy Captain, a Senior Lieutenant, a Marine Major and a Druid.

  Blomma and I snapped to attention, as Hana ordered, “Attention on deck.”

  “Who moved this boat?” shouted the Captain, “Who blocked my communications with the Station? Do you not understand that the Reina de la Adosinda is a ship of war and as such requires direct contact with Command?”

  He went on to state a lot more facts while the three of us stood at attention. As he thundered on, I eyed the other members of his party.

  The Senior Lieutenant was puffed up. She looked as if she were ready to step in for the Captain and continue quoting obscure lines and verses from the Navy manual.

  Marine Majors, I believe, are issued squinty eyes and an ‘I know what you’ve been trying to get away with’ look when they get their commission. This Major must have been top of his command class.

  The Druid hung back and was eyeing us from under his hood. He didn’t seem interested until he focused on my collar. A small pin rested under my Lieutenant’s bars. The pin identified me as a Knight Protector of the Clan. While it was more honorary then a functioning job, it required Druids and members of my Clan to render assistance when I asked for help.

  As the butt chewing went into the five-minute zone, it suddenly got intense for the Druid.

  “And I’ve brought the Major to arrest you and a Druid judge to pass sentencing,” the Captain announced ending another few minutes of his diatribe. Then he asked the question, the Druid was dreading, “Who is responsible for moving this Patrol Boat?”

  Furawā Hana, bless his heart, started to step forward. I placed a hand on his arm to restrain him and took the step myself.

  “Lieutenant Phelan Oscar Piran, Captain. I ordered the movement, Sir,” I stated.

  I think the Druid jerked slightly. No, it must have been my imagination. Druids don’t display emotions in front of Folks, anyone not of the Clan or a Druid.

  “Major, place this man under arrest,” the irate Captain ordered, “XO, you are my witness. Fill in Lieutenant Piran on the charges.”

  “Absolutely, Sir,” the Commander, who I now knew to be the Executive Officer of the Frigate, replied, “Lieutenant Phelan Piran, you are charged with...”

  I stopped listening as she ran out a string of breeched Navy regulations.

  The Captain’s PID buzzed and he typed in something. I guess he typed, ‘I do not want to be interrupted. Handle it’, because that’s what he mumbled under his breath.

  A few minutes later, we found out who had sent the message. His Shuttle pilot had been ordered away from the air lock and he wanted permission to leave. This came to light when Captain Viljami strolled through the hatch.

  “Lieutenant Piran, who has the Bridge watch?” the Patrol Boat’s Captain asked me. She walked by and ignored everyone else.

  “Captain Viljami, I have the Bridge,” I replied.

  “And why are Misters Blomma and Hana loitering on my Bridge?” she asked as she stepped directly in front of me, “Don’t they have duties elsewhere?”

  “Yes ma’am, they do,” I replied wondering where this exchange was leading.

  “Blomma and Hana, you are dismissed,” she ordered while still holding me in her gaze.

  My fellow crew members replied ‘Aye, Aye, Captain,’ and rapidly exited the Bridge. Behind Viljami the Frigate’s Captain began to speak, “Now see here…”

  “Lieutenant Piran, are there other people on my Bridge?” my Captain asked, this time, she wink at me.

  “Yes Captain, two Naval personnel, a Marine and a Druid,” I reported.

  “Now, Mister Piran, if I check my ship’s log, will I find that they reported in and registered as visitors to my ship?”

  “No ma’am, I was not informed of their names. Or the ship’s business bringing them to the Swanhilde,” I replied.

  She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Then she spun around quickly.

  “Captain Lamia, it is a common curtesy to inform a ship’s Captain when you visit a ship,” she stated in a tone that would peel paint from the bulkhead, “I assume since you didn’t, that you are leaving. Now people, get off my ship.”

  “Now see here, I am,” began Lamia, the Captain from the Frigate.

  “I know who you are Sa'ida Lamia,” she interrupted and pointed to her own Captain’s insignia, “You and I have a meeting with Admiral Gesina in the morning. Until then, I don’t have any use for you. Now, get off my ship.”

  She spun back to me and said, “Show me the repair status for my ship.”

  While I talked her through the completed repairs, the four unofficial visitors shuffled to the air lock. If Druids could feel, which I doubted, he would have been relieved. It could have gotten confusing for everyone if a Knight Protector of the Clan demanded help from a Druid judge in front of the accusing officer and the arresting officer.

  They didn’t look happy as they crowded around the airlock. In fact, Captain Lamia looked as if he would explode. I imagined Captains Viljami and Lamia’s meeting with the Admiral tomorrow would be interesting.

  “Captain Viljami, I’d like to apologize,” I started to say.

  “Piran, the Swanhilde is a war ship,” she said, “We’ve seen more action than most ships in the Galactic Council Navy. That’s why it’s commanded by a Captain and a Commander. We don’t get pushed around by officers from larger ships. Now finish your report.”

  So I did.

  The next day, sometime during second watch, the crew began shuttling in from shore leave.

  1st Office Lunes, Sergeant Kukka and the Marine Corps gun crews were the first to board. Shortly after, a second Shuttle dropped off the balance of our naval personnel. The Swanhilde was crewed and ready to launch once our Captain arrived. She didn’t until third watch.

  “Swanhilde arriving,” Commander Lunes announced as Captain Viljami climbed through the air lock.

  I stood where I was monitoring the radio and snap
ped up a salute. Lunes on the pilot deck was also rendering a hand salute. Our Captain returned the salutes as she stretched to her full height.

  “All hands meeting on the mess deck,” she said without a preamble, “Five minutes. Mister Piran. You have the Bridge. Lunes. You’re with me.”

  My two senior offices took the narrow ladder down to the Captain’s suite.

  “Aye, aye ma’am, I have the Bridge,” I mumbled to the empty hatch.

  Moving to the pilot area, I pulled up the communications mic and made the ship wide announcement.

  Four minutes later the communications, per Lunes’ orders, had been forwarded to the mess deck. I sat near a screen and the radio connection. The crew settled in around the deck leaving the first small round table empty. Viljami and Lunes appeared from below and while the Commander took a seat, the Captain remained standing. The small talk ceased and Viljami let the room settle into an almost uncomfortable silence.

  “As most of you know,” she began while locking eyes with individuals around the mess deck, “On our voyage to the Nafaka sector, we made contact with three attack ships. Rather than engaging, we ran.”

  This brought a mummer from the crew. She let the grumbling run its course before continuing, “Well, we are going back to the area,” she stated with a slight smile. “This time we’ll have the Galactic Council Frigate, Reina de la Adosinda, trailing us in. She’ll be two days behind so I’ll need your best until help arrives.”

  Two days made sense as we’d need the time to move out of the Frigate’s path. While a ship under External drive moved in a straight line, the terminal point could be anywhere in a wide, deep arc. Any minor variation in the angle of the ship when it went to an External evolution would lead to a wide deflection when it evolved to Internal drive.

  An area shaped like a hand fan needed to be cleared for the safety of our Patrol Boat and for the much larger Frigate. The bigger the ship, the wider the safety arc. Two days would get us clear but it also meant we’d need to defend our lone ship in the meantime.