by Saxon Andrew
• • •
They arrived in the training facility and started working on their computers. Angel knew RJ wasn’t telling her his real feelings about his encounter with Candy and there was no chance she’d find out. But he appeared to be ok and that’s really all that mattered. RJ looked at the simulation and thought about what Candy said. He knew that getting her to consider him as a companion was going to take some time and after what happened, he thought it was all over. But now she would have the opportunity to reflect on everything they’d done growing up and look at the events in a new light. The best thing that could happen is for them to be separated while she did that. He made his pitch and now it was up to her to see what he knew; they were meant for each other. He could be patient and allow her room to come to her own conclusion.
He thought about the confrontation with his crew after their conversation with Admiral McArdle. He and Angel entered the bridge and the three officers were working at their stations. He stared at them in silence and Angel waited for him to open a dialogue. Several long minutes passed, and Angel started to wonder what RJ was doing. Finally, Mallory Silver turned from her pilot’s console and saw RJ glaring at her. She blinked but RJ continued his silence. She reached over and nudged Matthew McAdams who looked up from his console and saw her staring at RJ. He turned and saw RJ staring intently at them and turned back to Mallory. After a moment, she nodded, and he turned to RJ, “Sir, is there a problem?”
Joe English heard Matt and turned from his weapons console to see what was going on.
RJ’s eyes narrowed, and he asked, “What are your actual ranks?” RJ’s question surprised Angel. She wasn’t expecting it.
Matt glanced at Mallory and Joe before answering, “We’ve been given the rank of captains for this mission.”
“That’s not my question!”
Matt stared at RJ and Mallory said softly, “Think about this before you answer, Matt.”
Matt looked at her and then turned back to RJ, “My rank is Junior Admiral and Mallory and Joe are Commodores, Sir.” Matt stared at RJ for a moment and then asked, “How did you find out?”
That was Angel’s doing.”
Angel’s head went back, and she blurted out, “Me?!”
RJ turned to her, “You said that our wing’s crews were the best in fleet, right?” Angel nodded. “Then you said that our crew was probably the best of the best and that’s why they weren’t attending the training.”
“But I didn’t say anything about their ranks, RJ!”
“You didn’t have to, Angel.” RJ turned back to the crew, “If the three of you really are the best of the best, then Fleet would not give you a captain’s rank. The three of you are going to teach New Britannia’s fleets about how to operate their ships when we return. With that much responsibility, you have to hold a higher rank than captain.”
“You had to have more information than that, Sir?” Matt replied.
RJ smiled, “I’ve been wondering why I was promoted to full Admiral to command an attack wing. A Junior Admiral’s rank would have been more than necessary to do that. But I was promoted to full Admiral. That had to mean there was someone with a higher rank in my wing than they reported. I had to have a higher rank than you Admiral McAdams to insure you’d follow my orders if things got tight.”
Matt looked at Mallory and Joe and said, “I told you he was smarter than we thought.” He turned back to RJ and added, “We were ordered not to tell you, Sir.”
“Then why did you?” RJ asked.
“Sir, the most important thing on a warship is trust between the members of the crew. If I lied to you, you’d not trust us. Trust is more important than keeping our ranks secret.”
RJ nodded, “I must confess that I was not happy learning that Angel and I would not be flying the ship. I have a lot of hesitation trusting someone else to do that. Angel and I were ranked number one and two in the piloting and weapons simulations at the Academy. I was worried that you weren’t as good as us. However, you’ve removed that concern by being honest. I suspect all of you have far superior talents than Angel and I possess.”
“Thank you, Sir. We won’t disappoint you,” Matt answered.
“For the duration of this mission, all of us will continue to use the ranks recorded on Fleet files,” RJ ordered. “Further, I want you to help Angel and me improve our flying skills.”
“Yes Sir. We’re depending on you to keep us out of trouble; you’ve seen the Britannia Aliens and that’s experience we don’t possess.”
RJ smiled, “Welcome aboard and I’m looking forward to working with you.”
“Sir, what’s the ship’s name?” Mallory asked.
“The ships name is Troke,” RJ answered.
Mallory’s eyes narrowed, and Angel asked, “What kind of name is ‘Troke’?
RJ turned to Angel, “I’m curious to see if you can find out.”
Angel pulled out her communicator and began entering the name. After a few minutes, she looked up, “That word doesn’t exist in the dictionary.”
RJ chuckled, “You out of everyone on board should be able to know what it is, Angel. However, I’m not telling you until all of you make a real effort at finding what it means.”
“So, this word really has a meaning?” Joe asked. RJ nodded. “Well, I like a good mystery. I bet ten credits I find it first.” The crew took his bet.
• • •
RJ turned to his computer and smiled; so far, they had come up empty. He started another simulation and focused on the monitor.
Chapter Ten
RJ stood in front of the classroom and waited until all fifty crews had entered and taken their seats. He stared at them and after a few moments, the room grew silent. RJ looked down at a folder on the podium and announced, “Fleet Operations have ordered our training activities terminated effective this morning. From this moment forward our trainers have been relieved and all of you will report to me.”
The crews stared at RJ and he saw their consternation. They had not been given the name of their wing commander prior to the completion of training and RJ had worn his Senior Captain uniform during training. The crews saw the rank insignia of a Wing Commander on his collar and they began looking at each other. RJ watched them in silence and waited for them to respond. Senior Captain Reyes finally raised his hand and RJ nodded to him. “Sir, permission to speak freely.”
“Is there any other way to Communicate, Senior Captain?” RJ responded succinctly.
Reyes’s brow furrowed, “Sir, aren’t you somewhat…. Uhhhh…?”
“Young and inexperienced?” RJ prompted him.
“Something like that, Sir. I looked you up in Fleet’s records while you were standing at the front of the room and it appears you graduated from the Academy seven months ago. You haven’t served on a ship long enough to fully understand its capabilities.”
The corner of RJ’s lip went up, “So, you’re concerned about my qualifications to be leading you on this mission?” Reyes didn’t answer verbally but did nod. RJ looked around the class room and saw many of the crews appeared to be agreeing with Captain Reyes. RJ stared at the crews and said, “Computer, clear the monitor and put two categories on it; likes and dislikes.” The monitor’s screen on the wall in front of the classroom cleared, and everyone saw Likes and dislikes appear on it. RJ looked around the room and said, “Everyone is invited to take part in this conversation. Nothing you say will be held against you so feel free to speak your minds. Computer, list any comments under the appropriate heading.” RJ looked at Angel sitting at a desk in the front row, “You can also speak up.”
Angel smiled, “Have I ever needed your permission to do that?”
RJ chuckled, “Just making sure you know.” He turned back to the assembly and waited.
There was a minute of silence and one of the ship commanders said, “I dislike a commander that micromanages everything I do.” Several others replied amen to his comment.
Another officer
said, “I also dislike a commander that refuses to listen to any suggestions given to him.” The comments appeared on the monitor under the appropriate heading and after twenty minutes RJ stopped the discussion. He looked at the monitor and the long list under dislikes and said, “No one mentioned anything they might like in a commander.” RJ turned back to the crews and said, “However, may I suggest that the reverse of the first thing mentioned would be appropriate? Right, Captain Reyes.” Reyes eyes narrowed, and RJ added, “You want someone knowledgeable and experienced to command this mission?”
“Yes Sir. That is correct.
RJ continued to stare at Reyes and said, “Computer, under the likes heading write the following, “Someone who can protect those under their command and bring them home safely.” Everyone in the room was silent and RJ’s eyes were steely, “If you could only have one column to choose, which one would it be?” The room was silent, and RJ smiled, “Come on, it’s not that hard. You could have the perfect commander if you choose the dislike column.”
An officer in the rear row said, “That decision has already been made, hasn’t it, Sir?”
RJ’s head tilted, “And you are?”
“Captain McAllister, Sir.”
“How did you come up with what you just announced?”
McAllister looked around at the other crews and shrugged, “I’ve never seen Fleet make a bad decision on choosing a commander for a mission. There’s something about you we don’t know, Sir.”
RJ smiled and looked at the crews, “Ok, how many of you pick the dislike column?” No one raised their hands. “Who picks the Like Column?” All the crews, including Reyes raised their hands. RJ looked around the room and then said to Captain McAllister, “I like the way you think.” He then looked at the crews, “So, it’s clear that you put your safety ahead of having a perfect mission commander. Before you summarily dismiss someone due to their youth, you should remember from Earth’s ancient history that a young man named Alexander the Great, who was seventeen years old, conquered the then known world. It’s not youth that’s an issue, it’s the lack of experience that often comes with it.” RJ paused and then said, “I was given a secret mission to scout the Britannia Aliens and I spent more than two months in their territory.”
The crews started murmuring and Angel ordered loudly, “You will be silent!”
The room grew silent and RJ looked directly at Captain Reyes, “New Britannia and the Colonies have not fought against, or scouted, any of our three enemies in more than eighteen years. No one in our Fleet knows anything about Earth’s, Fagan’s, or Britannia Aliens’ most advanced warships they’re currently using; that’s about to change. I’m commanding this mission because I’ve been to their space and came back safely.”
Captain Reyes nodded slightly, “I’m thankful for your selection, Sir. You’ve answered my issues quite satisfactorily. If you don’t mind my asking, why were you chosen to go on that mission?”
“It had to be done immediately and it had to be kept a strict secret. I’m also the one that suggested that it had to be done quickly.”
“And why did they allow you to do it?”
“I graduated number one in my class and that included every category except one; I was second in the pilot simulations. Senior Captain Coronado was number one. I also have an extensive knowledge of the combat operations fought against the Britannia Aliens when Melbourne was attacked, my parents had all the recordings.”
A pilot raised his hand, “Sir, are you Rory and Abby Dunhan’s son?”
“I am.”
“How did they like you going on this mission?”
“They hated it, but they accept I’m the best one to lead our ships back safely.” RJ paused and added, “There will be a difference this time.”
“What is that, Sir?” Reyes asked.
“This time we’re going back to the alien’s territory shooting. We will be attacking the alien’s most advanced warships and Planet Killers.” The gathered crews were shocked into silence. RJ looked at his folder and then looked up at them, “Our training has been cut short because of the time pressures and you’re going to have to learn some things on the fly.” He turned to Angel, “Have all the recordings we made in Britannia territory sent to everyone’s computer.”
“Yes Sir.”
RJ turned back to the class, “You will have two days to go over those recordings and then you’ll come here and offer suggestions on how to effectively carry out our mission.”
A Senior Captain sitting on the back row asked, “Just what is our mission, Sir?”
RJ looked at him and smiled, “I notice you took no part in the earlier discussion.”
The pilot shrugged, “I agree with Captain McAllister, Sir. You were chosen for a reason and I suspect anyone here that has an issue with you being in the leadership role would be removed from the mission. I think that discussion was a waste of time we could have used more effectively.”
RJ chuckled, “I like the way you think, Captain Daniels. However, from reading the files of those assigned to this mission, it’s clear that most of you do not always trust Fleet to make a good decision. The exercise of likes and dislikes was needed to offer some reassurance that Fleet was making a good decision in choosing me to command this effort. I’m not saying I’m another Alexander the Great, but I do pride myself on being thorough.” RJ turned to a woman sitting in the front row, “Captain Horton.”
“Yes Sir?”
“You are going to be assigned four King Hare Warships to scout the Britannia Alien’s defenses on New Britannia’s side of the core. Your ships have been specially modified to make it through an energy field that has been put in place over their territory. You need to pay special attention to the recordings on what we’ve uncovered on that field and how to get through it safely. Your four ships will go through that field and scout what is happening on this side of the central core.”
“Yes Sir.”
“You will position your ship high above the central core and collect all the information collected by your four scouts and immediately forward it to my ship’s computer on the opposite side of the core.”
RJ turned back to the others, “Computer, put the unit assignments on the monitor.” Four names appeared at the top of the monitor with ships assigned to them. “The remaining forty-five warships will be divided into three units of fifteen warships each. Captain McAllister, your unit will be scouting the central alien defensive lines where the Stealth Civilization is attacking. Captain Reyes, your unit will be scouting the civilization attacking on the port side of Captain McAllister’s unit. Captain Daniels, you will be scouting the civilization attacking the Britannia Aliens on the starboard side of Captain McAllister’s unit.”
The room stared at the Monitor and McAllister raised his hand, “Sir, did you already make this decision prior to today’s meeting?”
RJ smiled, “Yes, I did. I like the way you and Daniels think, and Captain Reyes has the most seniority; he has earned the right to command a unit.”
“Even though I challenged you, Sir?” Reyes asked.
RJ turned to him, “According to your file, you don’t like any unanswered issues going into a mission. You didn’t challenge me; you just needed to know what you were facing. I hope those issues have been answered.”
Reyes chuckled, “They have.”
“Good. Now, so there is no misunderstandings, I will be micromanaging your units until you learn enough to stay out of trouble after we arrive. Once you get up to speed, I’ll be depending on you to use your units in the most effective ways possible. Every ship assigned to scout the three civilizations attacking the Britannia Aliens will be attacking a Planet Killer before we leave. Captain McAllister, your unit will start early making their attacks; we’ve been ordered to try and delay the defeat of the Stealth Civilization. That is probably going to mean we’re going to be launching attacks against the Britannia Aliens when the Stealth Civilization attacks. Fleet has also ordered that we not
reveal our presence while we’re making our attacks.”
The room groaned, and RJ held up his hand, “I told fleet that was really not practical, and they agree that they aren’t greatly concerned if our ships are detected.”
“Why did they say that, Sir?” Captain Reyes asked. The crews laughed, and Reyes shook his head, “Hey! I need to know!”
RJ’s expression turned serious and he looked around the gathering before saying, “In all likely hood, the war against the enemies confronting New Britannia will be kicking off within a year. It’s more important to find out if our ships can stand up to the best Earth, Fagan, and the aliens have to offer than keeping our ships hidden. If they can’t stand up to them, then we’ll be forced to continue to hide. If that happens, we’ll be forced in the future to take on the Britannia Aliens alone and that isn’t something we’re able to do. However, we will try to keep our presence hidden unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.” RJ turned to Captain Horton, “Your unit will not fire any weapons during your mission.”
“Why is that?” Captain Daniels asked.
Connie turned around to him, “There won’t be any combat taking place on that side of the core and hiding the use of our weapons will be impossible.”
RJ smiled, “You’re right, Captain. I’m sure you have a question, Captain Horton.”
“Why do you say that, Sir?”
“You’re wondering why you were chosen to not take part in scouting the civilizations attacking the aliens.”
Connie smiled, “Is being a mind-reader one of your talents, Sir?”
“Admiral Alexander told me that you are the most talented scout he has ever encountered. I need the best one possible to scout the Britannia side of the core and not be caught doing it. I’m depending on you to make that happen.”
Connie shrugged, “I understand, Sir.”
“Don’t be disappointed. Before we leave, you and your ships will join us, and you’ll be required to take out an alien warship before we leave. All of you are going to be needed to teach the other ships in Fleet on what to expect when the war breaks out.” RJ paused and said, “You have your assignments, now get out of here and start studying the recordings.” The crews came to attention and RJ said loudly, “Dismissed.”