The Jumpgate

by Robert Stadnik

  Though he was ostracized socially, Jacob did settle into a comfortable routine at the bureau. Eventually, those he worked with accepted his presence and collaborated with him on projects. He could have easily remained at the bureau, but he was too close to Earth. It was too tempting to try and look up his past, the life he had before the EXODUS Project. No, he needed to leave that be, and transferring to a capital ship would ensure he’d stay far away from Earth.

  ********

  Although there were significant differences between them, Jacob was familiar with the layout of all of TERRA’s capital ships. His time at the engineering bureau was focused on designing new starships; however, he spilt his time by also assisting with integrating alliance technologies on the existing capital ships. He helped retrofit PHOENIX during its reconstruction after the Screen battle at the Ni star system and learned a lot about combining different technologies.

  TERRA was reluctant to scrap their capital ships that had served as the military’s fleet for decades. The council insisted on upgrading them with the technologies acquired by PHOENIX during the Screen mission, even though it would do little to augment TERRA’s fleet when compared to the might of the Onixins, Senfo, and Quix. Once the first crop of new starships entered service, the capital ships would be retired.

  The narrow, brown corridors of the SOLARA were starkly different than the wide corridors of the PHOENIX. These were only wide enough to allow two people to walk side by side together. It wasn’t an issue on the SOLARA as the ship’s crew complement wasn’t too big. Jacob looked around and was impressed by the pristine condition of the interior. The SOLARA was the youngest of the five capital ships, but it was still over twenty-five years old. It was thanks to a regimented schedule of refits and upgrades over the years that it was kept looking new. It also helped that the only combat the ship had seen was against the Screen armada near Mars. But the SOLARA, like the other capital ships, was kept in the back of the alliance fleet and had minimal participation in the battle as their armaments and defensive systems were substantially inferior to the PHOENIX and alliance ships. None of the capital ships took so much as a scratch in that battle thanks to the Ni vessels that protected them.

  Commander Diego expected the captain had already contacted Admiral Vargas to challenge Diego’s appointment to the ship as executive officer. Captain Dewis, like most of TERRA’s long-serving officers, were not happy with the changes that had occurred since the Screen’s defeat. They knew punishing the entire PHOENIX crew wouldn’t happen, but they at least wanted John Roberts and Julie Olson, the commanders of that ship, court-martialed and thrown in prison. When that didn’t happen, they lobbied to have John removed from commanding PHOENIX. Jacob knew that the other ship commanders were eager to remove Captain Roberts so they’d have a shot at commanding TERRA’s largest starship.

  Earth Security took over a lot of key positions in TERRA, removing many long-serving admirals and high-level officers. The new requirement to work with the alien alliance military groups, dictated by ES on orders from the government, was too much for many officers to accept and a good portion of them resigned. Fortunately, they were replaced with seasoned ES personnel. Out of the five capital ship commanders, only Captain Dewis and the captain of the SYRIA remained. When the other captains were removed from their posts, they weren’t even given their retirement benefits. This was partly done to encourage the remaining high-level TERRA officers to cooperate with the changes being implemented. Adherence to the old ways of thinking would no longer be tolerated.

  Jacob stepped onto the lift. “Command deck.” He waited a few moments and realized the lift wasn’t moving. It was only when he looked at the buttons on the control panel that he realized he couldn’t tell the ship’s computer where he wanted to go to. He had to press a button. As soon as he pressed the command deck button, the lift began to move. This wasn’t the PHOENIX, whose main computer controlled most of the ship’s functions. The SOLARA’s computer was designed to conduct only critical functions, and lift operations wasn’t deemed critical. The commander had to remind himself that the SOLARA was an old ship. It would take time for him to get used to not having the amenities he enjoyed on PHOENIX.

  The lift stopped, and the door opened. A guard was standing in front of Jacob, and the commander promptly flashed his ID. Reviewing the card, the guard allowed Diego to step onto the command deck. It wasn’t much different from PHOENIX’s command deck, just a lot smaller. Instead of a pit to walk down into, the SOLARA’s command deck was a single, flat level. Also, the windows running along the walls were narrow slits. An officer had to get right up to one to see out into space.

  None of the command deck staff paid any attention to the commander. They were busy at their stations working on getting the ship ready for launch. The SOLARA had spent the last three months moored at the Luna shipyard while its new systems were being installed.

  Jacob didn’t see the captain and assumed he was in his office. No reason to put off the introductions. He expected the meeting to be quite unpleasant. He walked over and rang the office door chime. Let the fun begin.

  “Come in,” came the voice of the captain.

  Soon as the door opened, Jacob walked in. “Commander Jacob Diego reporting for duty, sir.”

  The captain put down the DAT he was reading and looked at the commander. He studied him for a few moments before saying anything. “What are you doing here, commander? You’re not due to arrive until this afternoon.”

  Jacob could already tell the introduction with the captain would not be pleasant. “My business at the bureau was finished. I thought it best to come here and help with the remaining launch preparations.”

  “And you didn’t think to notify us? Notify me? You came on board without the proper welcoming committee.”

  Jacob remained composed. “Such protocol isn’t necessary for me.”

  Dewis corrected him. “It’s not for you; it’s for the crew. Our officers need to see that we properly salute our commanding officers and give them the courtesy they deserve. What you did was a disservice to them.”

  “Shall I leave and come back this afternoon?” Jacob was serious about doing it. If Captain Dewis wanted to play this game and follow old school protocols, the commander would go along with it.

  Dewis tossed his DAT on the desk. “No, I’m sure word of your arrival is already going around. A welcoming ceremony would be moot at this point. As the ship commander, I welcome you on board the SOLARA.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Jacob wondered if the captain would at least stand up and shake his hand. He didn’t.

  Dewis was ready to make his feelings clear to his new executive officer. “Let me be blunt. I’m not happy you’re here. Your assignment to this ship was made without my approval.”

  No surprise to Jacob. “I understand, sir. I know those of us who served on PHOENIX are not popular in the fleet.”

  “For good reason. As far as I’m concerned, you’re all traitors who should be in prison. I don’t care that you managed to defeat the Screen. Stealing a starship, humiliating TERRA in the process, and putting the entire human race in jeopardy was too great of a risk. You’re lucky the Screen didn’t just come in and obliterate us as soon as you left.

  “When I learned you were assigned as my executive officer, I protested it. I don’t respect you and don’t trust you: two components necessary for a captain and XO to work together. But I was told the decision was final. If you choose to remain, you do so without my support. I can guarantee you this crew feels the same as me. You have no friends here.”

  Their first meeting was going along just as Jacob expected. “May I be equally blunt, sir?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “I’ve been dealing with people like you ever since I left PHOENIX. I’m used to being ostracized and undermined. I’ve learned to live with being the outcast. I expect to be treated no differently here than I was at the bureau.”

  “Then why even stay?” Dewis asked. “If offi
cers are treating you poorly, why continue serving in TERRA? More so, why even leave PHOENIX?”

  “My reasons for leaving PHOENIX are my personal business. I don’t have a problem with how people treat me. I’m here to do a job, nothing more. I’m not interested in a popularity contest.”

  “Fine.” The captain wasn’t interested in the commander’s reason for leaving PHOENIX. “Then why come to the SOLARA? You can continue at the bureau until one of those new starships you helped design gets built. You can serve on one of those. Why come here? This ship is nothing like what you had on the PHOENIX.”

  “My experience will serve this ship well. There’s nothing more I could offer at the bureau. You may not believe it, but I have a lot to offer here.”

  Dewis shook his head. “The only thing you’ll offer is a disruption to ship operations and resentment from the crew. You also made getting a promotion a lot more difficult for yourself. There’s no way I’d ever recommend you for a ship commander post.”

  “Fair enough,” was all Jacob said.

  Captain Dewis considered the commander’s lack of a meaningful response. Any other officer would be working an XO position in such a way to ensure a promotion to ship commander, but it appeared Commander Diego was unfazed by the captain’s comment. “It seems you’ve made up your mind. I can’t forcibly remove you. For now, we’re stuck with each other, but now you know where you stand with me.”

  “Yes, sir. May I begin my duties?”

  Dewis picked up his DAT. “The last of our new officers should be on board tonight. Review the duty roster and debrief me on it tomorrow. I understand there’s been some last-minute changes. Also, consult with Lieutenant Walters on the launch schedule. He’s taken up Commander Ali’s responsibilities since she left.”

  Jacob nodded. “Understood, sir.”

  Dewis leaned forward on his desk. “One more thing, commander. We have an alien coming on board who’ll be serving as our chief operations officer…another decision taken out of my hands. I believe the alien’s a Senfo?”

  “Yes, sir,” Jacob confirmed. “Fotell is her name.”

  “You know her?”

  Jacob nodded. “We served together at the bureau.” He was about to go on about what a benefit she would be to the ship but figured the captain had little interest in her qualifications. Why waste his breath. She was an alien, someone who didn’t belong on a human ship.

  “You’ll be responsible for handling her training and acclimation to our operations,” Dewis explained. “I expect my interaction with her will be limited to necessary engagements on the command deck. Beyond that, I have no interest in learning about her or her culture.”

  “I’ll make sure you’re insulated,” Jacob promised.

  “And make sure you do the same with me,” Dewis added. “I expect us to interact only regarding ship business, nothing more.”

  “You’ve made your opinion of me very clear, captain. I’ll stay out of your way.”

  “Then we understand each other. Dismissed.”

  Jacob left the captain’s office. Dewis was hoping to convince the commander that serving here wasn’t a good idea, but he seemed committed to staying. The captain did notice how emotionless Diego came across—almost robotic in his demeanor. It was probably the result of the commander trying to shield himself from the treatment he received from his fellow officers. If the commander was smart, he’d keep up that demeanor here. Captain Dewis had no intention of protecting Diego from the crew.

  ********

  “Make sure you get your homework done. While I’m gone, your dad will be checking that you're keeping up with your schoolwork.” Lieutenant Kelly Nalus was in her quarters, talking with her two daughters. With the SOLARA getting ready to conduct its first interstellar patrol mission, she knew she’d be too busy to call back home and wanted to take one last opportunity to talk with her family. This would be the longest she’d be away from them, and the thought of being gone for an extended length of time was hitting her.

  “Alright, girls. Go get yourselves ready for dinner,” came the voice of their father, Kelly’s husband, from behind them.

  “Okay,” the girls replied in unison. “Love you, mom,” they said as they waved to her.

  Kelly blew them kisses and smiled. Once she saw they were gone from the room, she spoke up. “How are they handling this?”

  “Better than me,” Able admitted as he sat down. “To them, this is just another mission you’re doing. The fact you’re leaving the solar system doesn’t seem to have fazed them. I would have thought they’d be more excited their mom’s going out into deep space. Wish I wasn’t so worried.”

  Kelly could understand his concerns but was determined to assure him she’d be fine. “I told you nothing’s going to happen. It’s just a quick patrol of the sector.”

  “What if some hostile aliens attack you?” Able asked.

  “The Screen are gone. We’ve got alliance ships patrolling the sector. If something comes up, they’ll alert us.”

  Able still wasn’t convinced. He had made it very clear to his wife he wasn’t enthused about her serving on a ship that was now going to make routine trips outside the solar system. He tried to convince her to transfer to a ground installation, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Kelly loved serving on a capital ship, and her goal was to become a ship commander someday. The fact that ship commanders could start expecting to leave the solar system didn’t bother her. No matter how many arguments they had, Kelly wouldn’t budge from her stance. Her career was important to her.

  “I don’t like this,” Able admitted.

  “I don’t want to leave with you mad at me,” Kelly remarked.

  “I’m not mad; I’m just worried. I want you to be safe.”

  “The SOLARA has a good crew, and they’ve fitted the ship with new weapons. We’ll be fine.”

  Able knew his wife would continue reassuring him. “Just don’t run the ship into an asteroid.”

  Kelly crossed her arms. “You didn’t just make a negative remark about my navigation skills, did you?”

  Able winked at her. “Just keeping you on your toes. Seriously, be careful out there…and call me when you have a chance.”

  “I will, I promise.” Kelly put her hand on the monitor and smiled. Able did the same, then the communications link ended.

  Able worried too much about his wife’s well-being, but Kelly wouldn’t have it any other way. She liked having someone worry about her. Able never shied away from voicing his concerns about her career and she appreciated that he didn’t internalize his emotions. It was that open communication that made their marriage strong.

  It wasn’t the mission itself that worried Kelly. Even though this would be the first time her and the SOLARA crew had ventured outside the solar system, she was ready for it. What bothered her was the new executive officer coming on board. Although Captain Dewis hadn’t made an official announcement, he already informed some of his longer-serving officers about Commander Diego. She was disgusted she would have to serve under someone from the PHOENIX. She, like many of her fellow officers, felt that crew—no, those rebels—betrayed TERRA. It didn’t matter that they defeated the Screen; it didn’t justify their actions. They knew nothing of what it meant to serve in a cohesive military structure. They would bring nothing but chaos to TERRA’s operations with their outrageous ideas.

  She also had another reason for not wanting the commander on board. With Commander Ali’s departure, Kelly had hoped to get promoted to security chief. She assumed Chief Gimron would become the new XO, leaving a vacancy in the security chief slot, a position Kelly had wanted for years. But with Diego’s arrival, no one would be promoted.

  Kelly would make it very clear to Commander Diego that she wanted him gone. Anything she could to do encourage his departure from SOLARA, she would do. It didn’t matter that he was a superior officer, she’d do whatever she could to undermine his authority.

  ********

  Jacob obtaine
d his DAT from the requisition department and went to meet up with Lieutenant Jonas Walters to go over the ship’s launch details. As he walked through the corridors, the commander noticed a lot of stares from the people he passed. They undoubtedly knew he was their new executive officer. No one smiled at him, let alone acknowledged him. Jacob was used to it. Opening himself up to make new friends was something he wasn’t willing to do. Why bother? No wanted to get to know him, and it was easier this way. He didn’t want to make friends only to possibly lose them to some catastrophe. He started thinking about PHOENIX’s battle with the Screen at the Ni star system, but quickly stopped himself. Now was not the time to wallow in sadness.

  The commander found the chief engineer on deck nine in the computer core. The lieutenant was consulting with a computer specialist as two bots conducted maintenance on the core when the commander walked in on them.

  “Can I help you?” Jonas asked as he looked over to Jacob.

  The commander held up his DAT. “I’m here to go over some final launch details with you.” Jonas had a confused look on his face. “I’m Commander Jacob Diego, the new executive officer.”

  Jonas’s eyes beamed with delight. “Commander, yes!” He looked at the computer specialist. “Run the diagnostic in engineering. I’ll stay here and finish up the recalibration.”

  “Yes, sir,” the specialist replied as she left the room. She gave Jacob a disparaging look before walking out.

  Jonas approached the commander with a smile and saluted him. “Welcome aboard, sir. If we’d had the welcoming ceremony, we would have already met.”