by T J Bryan
The gallery faction began chanting again and through the din and chaos the Chairman adjourned the meeting.
...
Jamon System - Ragnarök Mess - Year 3245. September 19 ET: 07:53
"Well, that's about it," concluded Abel to Silvi, Emmitt, and Helen. "We are loosing support, factions are coalescing around some kind of drastic demand that the navy move, and we still have no idea who wants my scalp."
"You said Piet Peters did not cast a vote against the navy? Why? "asked Emmitt.
Abel responded, "I am not certain, but his intentions are clear. He wants to enforce his own conditions on the OCN, but in this case he chose to stand above the fray. Victor thinks Piet knew the motion would loose and did not want to be seen on the loosing side. He is just biding his time until he can get what he wants. As to what Piet really wants I cannot say."
Helen stood, "Well someone wants control of the navy by removing you or killing you, but they will not accomplish what they want. Our ships are few, our crews small, but our commitment to service is unwavering. We are today the only, the only, path that can save us from The Dark."
Abel nodded in agreement, but he knew that all of his supporters would in the end serve the commonwealth even if he, Abel, were dead or gone. The impatient and foolish could well overturn the only plan needed to save them all.
Abel chose to change the rather depressing subject. "How is the crew training program progressing?"
"Ah, Glad you asked," responded Captain Rebbah. Your hunch about self selection has proven surprisingly effective. In the last three weeks we have seen more than 12 folks advance beyond the initial stages of certification by the simulator. They are now at the level requiring real flight time. We have two qualified in EM and one in MS. Two on weapons and one on defence. The amazing part is we have six who have reached at least level three on the pilot's qualification and two of those are now at level four. Abel, I know this is hard to understand, but some of these folks would never have qualified according to our previous criteria. One is a 40 year old housewife, another a miner approaching retirement at 90. The rest are a mishmash of odd professions and unimpressive backgrounds. Oh, and one is a thirteen year old school girl who is leading in the pilot's score."
"How about our formal trainees?" Abel asked.
Silvi replied, "We have taken our training ship the 1044 and given real time lessons to eight of the advanced candidates from both pools. That includes our two surprise volunteers Wain Peters and Jerry Renner. I was reluctant on taking both out on the 1044 given their physical limitations, but I'll be damned. They are simply amazing. The focus, the intensity, and the simple skill of those two is beyond any physical limitation. I expect Jerry to make pilot level 7 this week and I am certain that level 8 and full qualification will follow before the end of October. As for Wain, we could fly with him today. Our other candidates continue slow progress, but I am confident we will have what we need by December."
"What's the score Silvi?"
Silvi responded. "Well including the crew we have qualified today, we have three ready pilots, with three more in the pipeline before December. Our other critical positions we can fill by the time of our scheduled departure. We can expect to fully man Ragnarök and have R76 ready soon after Ragnarök leaves. In that sense R76 is ahead of schedule. And we may well have 1044 almost ready by the time Ragnarök
returns, although we will continue to need her as a training vessel as long as the OCN is needed.
After a moment Silvi added, "Everything looks good except astrogation. Our bottle neck."
Helen spoke before Abel could ask a question, "Yes, yes. Nomi is qualified, but both Dilli and Taylor seem to have stalled out at somewhere between level six and seven. I tried to ask Nomi about the transition between those levels and her only answer was odd."
"What did she say Helen?"
"'It's in the stars.' That's all she said. I tried to ask more but she simply ignored me. She said she was thinking about something important and did not have time to converse."
"Has she been out on the training ship?"
Silvi responded, "Yes, we took her out on Ragnarök for two six day voyages together with Dilli. Nomi bunked with Farn. They seem to like each other. Given Nomi's dislike of other girls as stupid and boring I don't understand why they seem so well suited to each other. Perhaps it's Farn's lack of judgement and fear of nothing combined with Nomi's desperate need for a friend. I don't know which. But Nomi seems different on the ship. She does not speak much, but the few words she says from the astrogators position are short and concise. There is no self doubt, just affirmative and positive action. And the simulator agrees with her navigation. She seems more of a kid now, but with a serious side when it comes to the stars. It's something about the ship. But then actual service on the ship has changed all of us including our trainees.
"Now for the critical question." Abel could see Silvi wince since she knew what was coming. "Can we leave at the end of November?"
Silvi took longer to respond that Abel had thought. Abel now knew that Silvi must have some wiggle room on the schedule given the coming availability of qualified crew.
"Abel," said Silvi with a sigh. "The issue will soon no longer be qualifications, but shipboard experience. It's one thing for the crew to qualify, it's entirely another to understand how to man a ship in flight. Not to mention team work chemistry and the response of a crew in crisis. For that reason I am holding to the end of December."
Abel looked at Helen. "And the R76. We were not scheduled to go until Ragnarök
returned from Girots perhaps 30 to 50 days after departure. At this point I think we can be ready to leave two weeks or so after Ragnarök departs. Still the crew will be green but we will have some experienced crew like Larry and some others."
Abel responded, "R76 is not leaving under any circumstances until Ragnarök
returns and gives a status on Girots. Remember we have a debris field out at the Dello return portal. Something dangerous lingers out in the void. We can not go flying off into The Dark without knowing what we are heading into. Ragnarök's return is conditional on R76's departure."
Helen thought a moment, "And if Ragnarök does not return?"
Helen had asked the question Abel had refused to consider all these months but it was a question that lay just beneath the surface of all his plans for the OCN. "If Ragnarök
does not return then all bets are off. However, we will send 1044 on the same mission. And if she does not return then, desperate times call for desperate measures."
Both Helen and Silvi just starred ahead. Helen then turned to Abel. "Abel we have a new problem and it's one that is most troubling."
"What?"
"Our trainees are beginning to be harassed. Two weeks ago citizens began stopping them on the paths or in the parks asking when they would leave and giving them encouragement. But since the Assembly meeting a few citizens have become abusive. There is shouting and insults. Calls of laziness and in some cases cowardice. Yesterday we had a fist fight between two promising candidates and two Food Syndicate members. It's only getting nasty out there."
Abel thought a moment, "Let's transfer all the promising candidates immediately to the R76. They can live in the supercargo area. If I remember we have room for 60 or so not counting the marine quarters."
Helen responded, "I was thinking that as well. There will be complaints and some drop outs I'm sure. But we know that nothing accelerates training like actual shipboard experience. We can start tomorrow."
Helen thought for a long moment, "Abel. I think you should transfer to the R76 as well. If your dead our program is as good as dead as well. We cannot afford to loose you. It's time to join the fleet."
Abel shook his head. "No. I'm now more of a political creature than a Chief or naval leader. My place is here in the Habitat representing the interests of the OCN and of the only hope we have in saving the Commonwealth. If I were to retreat to the ship our enemies, whoever they might
be, would circle in for the kill. No. I have to stay here on Habitat, visible, active, and leading the effort to get us to Girots. And yes, if our foes kill me then it is you Helen who must take over. Silvi is skilled and able, but it takes a reputation and history within our political world and only you or Emmitt have that history. I'm counting on you Helen to carry on regardless.
Chapter Twenty Eight
Jamon System - Collegium Annex - Year 3245. September 20 ET: 09:34
Abel had stayed in the Habitat keeping a visible presence and assuring citizens of the navy's progress whenever he could. He also underwent occasional insults and abuse without reacting in a defensive manner. Citizens were on both short rations as well as on short fuses. The more advanced students were being transferred to the R76 under the guise of more advanced training, but Abel knew that public criticism would have a demoralizing influence on the trainees and undoubtedly result in greater fallout if they were not isolated on the ship. As it was, only two of fifty three trainees had refused to join the R76, and one because she was in the advanced stage of pregnancy and wanted to remain home. The other was a young man who's parents refused to allow him to join the 'damned navy.'
Still others flocked to the simulators in the old gymnasium for the competition, friendship, and potential of a spot on an OCN ship. Abel was amused when a group of five young female teens, the oldest of which was perhaps 16, took a turn on booth 2 and for four hours flew a rather difficult combat mission until their 'ship' was blown to plasma and dust. At their defeat they laughed and returned to the real world. Abel from the instructors booth took a look at their scores. Rather impressive he thought and then noticed that they had shown up every day at precisely 06:00 for the past month to play the game. They had not missed one day. The instructors monitor indicated they had given their virtual ship in booth two a name; 'The Banshees.'
Abel thought since he was building the OCN for today, and for the future, he should keep an eye on these Banshees.
His vid-comp chimed and Abel saw Dr. Freydis Auber on the line. "Hello."
"Ah, Abel. I thought you should know but there has been a mishap on the R76. Seems one of the candidates hurt themselves while exploring the ship. Helen says they should have remained in quarters, but the young girl is 17. You just cannot expect to confine a young lady of that age to the confines of a ship.
"How bad?"
"Nothing too serious, but rather painful I fear."
"I'll be right over." Abel responded.
A few minutes later Abel entered the hospital and found Nieve Vilulf lying in a hospital bed with Dr Auber standing over her. Nieve seemed to be in some kind of traction device and it looked very uncomfortable. Nieve was fully conscious and asking for ice cream, not hospital ice cream, but R76 ice cream. Abel remembered that Nieve was training as a weapons operator and had shown great promise, but she was also intensely active and maintained an extremely vigorous work out in the exercise station of R76.
Dr. Auber looked up at Abel. "She has lesions on her spine and is experiencing rather intense pain. We have her on some meds for the pain and the lesions do not look serious, but whatever she was doing I don't recommend repeating."
Abel could see that Nieve was surprised by Abel's appearance and somewhat embarrassed.
Abel thought to put her at ease before asking what happened. "Ah, Nieve, I have been following your scores the last week and I find them impressive. Your going to make a fine weapons officer." Abel thought to himself this was the first time he had used the term 'officer' but it seemed to fit the occasion. "We will have you out of here in no time ready to wear the purple when you qualify."
Nieve smiled.
"Now tell me Nieve what happened?"
"Well, Helen, I mean Captain Rebbah, encourages us in our off time to explore R76. She says we need to get to know the ship. It will be our home, and if anything goes wrong we will need to know every compartment, hatch, and airlock in order to repair her or to bring her on home."
"That's exactly what you need to know."
"We were down in the Marine's quarters and we saw those suits they have. You know the armour. It's impressive and I thought I might try one on. No one said we could not, and after all it is part of the ship we are supposed to know. Well, I buckled up the suit. It was not easy and far more complicated than a vac suit. I had a lot of problems with the torso carapace. It did not seem to want to fit. But after a while it conformed to me. You know my body and all."
Abel now noticed that Nieve was a rather shapely if extremely well fit young lady.
"After I got the chest carapace attached to the hip unit I was ready. It felt pretty good. I mean for something so big and heavy looking. Felt rather light in fact. So then I pulled up the helmet. You know the head unit. Pulled it down and threw the latch. Then I felt the worst pain ever. In may back. I fell over I think. I thought I was going to die, in fact at that moment the pain was so horrific I wanted to die. But Alice Brunner, Buddy's sister, pulled the helmet off and the pain subsided. But it still hurt and I could not walk. So here I am. Dr. Auber says I should be able to return to duty in a few days. But I'm going to miss my training slot. I'm so angry with myself I could spit."
"Your going to be fine. I'll talk to Captain Rebbah and make sure you get some make up time on the simulator. And stay away from those Marine suits. At least until we figure out how they work."
As Abel left the hospital he called Helen on his vid-comp and told her that he was on his way to visit R76. He had spent the last two days on the Habitat and he felt he needed the cold embrace of a starship to clear his head.
Abel walked from the Hospital up Parsons Path, through Nelsons Park where the attempted assassination had occurred, and on toward the air lock complex that led to the docking area. As he passed the monument he noticed a knotted rope of amazing complexity draped over the monument. Another talisman he realised. The old ways are still with us. As he passed the Watch Office he nodded to the Officer of the Watch. This morning Dayna English was Officer of the Watch. He paused to exchange pleasantries, but before he left Dayna asked that he look out for her son Binnet who had joined Helen's candidate crew as a defence officer. Abel said he would take special care for Binnet and wished Dayna a good evening.
As Able walked through the cold dock and toward the lift that would take him to the highline and R76, he realized that in such a small community as Habitat, that even a handful of navy candidates had family, friends, and just acquaintances who supported them and who understood the demands of the navy in its' effort to save the Commonwealth. Abel was unsure of the math and how that might work, but if one took a hundred candidates or crew and assumed family of perhaps parents, siblings, grand parents, cousins, uncles and others, then each candidate or crew must be supported by perhaps ten or twenty family members. Add to that friends and acquaintances plus colleagues in what ever profession and the number grew quite large. Perhaps Abel's worries were overwrought. Perhaps there was very real and very solid support for the Navy and for his leadership. Only time will tell thought Abel, but unfortunately they were running out of time.
Abel reached the highline and found Farn Mayer waiting for his arrival. She saluted crisply and Abel returned her salute. There is nothing I can do to stop this saluting nonsense he thought. She had in her hand a proper Greayson ship suit and a pair of white shorts designating his position as Admiral. Farn turned away as Abel changed. Moments later Farn sealed the hatch on the highline pod and activated the crawler. As the pod began to move Abel looked once again out the plasticine window toward the bright shine of distant stars. How amazing he thought that soon we will be travelling among the stars on a mission of hope. It's cold out there but what a wonder and what a worthwhile challenge for human kind.
Just as they were about half way to R76 Abel looked back toward the Habitat. High above the docking area and near the old and now abandoned fuelling station Abel saw bright flashes of light. Too bright to be reflections or head lamps. Bright snapping light
s.
Plasma rifles Abel realized. Someone was firing plasma rifles at the pod. He urged Farn to step away from the plasticene windows, although the shell of the pod was thin and never intended to sustain even light plasma rifle fire. A moment later one plasticene window shattered or rather melted into free floating globs of plastic. Abel looked toward Farn. Farn was trying to place herself between Abel and the shooter on the Habitat. Abel would have nothing of that, but he fell flat upon the deck to present less of a target. Then the pod swung hard to port. The highline cable had parted under plasma fire and the pod had broken loose. They were hurtling into the void. Abel looked first at Farn's O2 bottle and saw the green telltale as Farn pulled her neck tab and inflated her hood. Abel did the same. Abel checked Farn's O2 supply reading, and in good buddy fashion Farn checked his. They both had 55 minutes of air. Hopefully enough time for someone on the R76 or the 1044 to come to their rescue. The question in both their minds was how soon would it take someone on the undermanned R76 to realize that the pod had broken away and was now headed into the void. They had only to wait and hope.
Abel stood as best he could. The pod was slowly spinning. Not enough to cause discomfort but enough that the entire void of the Jamon system flashed by every eighty seconds or so. Farn stood as well. Farn had activated her personal distress beacon and was calling for help on the emergency response channel. But as Abel listened all he could hear was a high pitched squeal. Someone was jamming the emergency channel. Whether the distress beacon worked Abel was unsure. But clearly unless someone was on their toes either within the Habitat, or on R76 they were in great difficulty.