“We'll be ready.” He turned to one of Agameg's security team, a tall brown haired woman holding a heavy pulse rifle. “Escort the Minister to the brig. Make sure you search him thoroughly. Don't leave him with anything. No devices, no jewellery, and not a stitch of clothing. ”
“Yes sir,” she guided the Minister to the rear of the bridge, smiling at him.
“Go watch. Stay out of striking distance and keep your weapon trained on him.” Captain Valance instructed another female security team member.
When Minister Lorne and the two guards had left the bridge Captain Valance sighed and looked at Agameg, who smiled uneasily.
“A day that will live in memory,” said the issyrian. The fine, thread thin tendrils beside his mouth puffed outward for a moment. The only parts of his face that didn't look strange to anyone outside of his race were his lips and his eyes. The lips were thin, but much like a humans. His eyes were completely different, however. They were wide, deep or bright green depending on his mood and much larger, but their expressiveness was always easy to read. When he looked nervous they were almost completely O shaped. When he was concentrating they formed into wide slits, and when he was nervously trying to comfort someone it was somewhere in between, just like the expression he was making in that moment. The bright green tint of them told the Captain that Agameg was unsure, nervous. When the thin issyrian was relaxed the colour normally darkened, but they could also be a deep shade of green when he was tired.
“Have a seat.” Captain Valance said, gesturing to his left.
Stephanie looked up from the small control panel and holographic projector built into her chair and smiled at Agameg for a moment before it drew her attention once more. “Are all these applicants Cynthia?” she asked.
“They are. We're up to about eight hundred now including the military. Should I filter them or just send them to you?”
“I'm filtering them here. The variety of applicants we're getting is amazing. Some of them are from the starliner, others are from the escape shuttles. There are even specialists and highly educated people here.”
“Good, work with Cynthia to choose people for each department. We'll need everyone from technicians to reserve pilots.”
“Oh, if you find any washed out pilots or gamers, send 'em my way. They're crap in the cockpit, but gold in a gunnery turret.” Frost added from the security station. “And track someone down to help me here, security and tactical is a wee bit much.”
Captain Valance and Price moved to stand at the same time. “I can try sir. These systems look interesting and I've already worked with them a little,” Agameg said.
“Go ahead,” Jake invited. “How is that docked transport doing?” he asked the helm.
“They're still locked onto us.” Ashley reported.
“According to my readings they still have full life support. It looks like they're just clinging on for safety,” said the fellow at navigation.
“Or they're out of food and water. What's your name, by the way?”
“Larry Nevil. I was brought on as navigator when Wheeler got his deal from Regent Galactic. Before that I was navigator aboard the Cestrio. It was a long range customs pursuit ship that was damaged in an Aucharian attack.”
“He's one of the good guys sir,” Ashley said, smiling at him.
“Good to have you aboard. Sticking around?” Asked Captain Valance.
“Aye sir, if you'll have me. Living aboard this ship is better than living on a customs frigate or even a diplomatic cruiser. Even if it doesn't pay as well. Get a few shops and restore the botanical gallery and we'll have a real town square.”
“What's a botanical gallery?” Ashley asked with interest.
“On this ship it's a big space that used to have all kinds of plants and animals from Earth. There were paths going between them and a few different levels. I started working on it in my spare time using some of the seeds in storage. I didn't make much of a mark though, just the center part alone is huge.”
“After we get the ship repaired we'll have people work on it on a voluntary basis. It would be good for morale.” Captain Valance put in as he started looking at a security screen. “Is this right, Frost?”
“What's that sir?”
“It looks like a lot of emergency shuttles are powering up.”
“That's right sir. Hangar two is the busiest place on the ship.”
The Changing Of The Guard
Lawrence held on to his mother's hand as he watched the first of the shuttles depart. He was mesmerized by the sight of the little ships powering their engines up and lifting off from the deck. Following the directions of the Aucharian soldiers who waved their arms up, to their sides, down and all around. He tugged at the collar of the child sized vacsuit Liam had brought them while they were in the racks. The man didn't stay long, just for a minute, but he liked the older fellow, seeing him made him feel safe. His mother wore one of the vacsuits as well. “When are we going Mom?” he asked.
“We'll be on one of the last ones. Your dad is waiting for us on the Darian. ”
“Is that his ship?”
She knelt down and looked at him face to face. “No, it's a ship that helped him when he escaped from his space station.”
“Is Liam going there?”
“No, he has to stay here.”
“Why?”
“Well, there are a lot of other families who need his help. The people on this ship need him too because no one knows how it works better than him.”
“This is a ship?” Lawrence said, his eyes wide.
“Yes, it's one big ship.”
“The whole thing?” he asked in disbelief, thinking of how long it took them to get from the smelly, messy bunk rooms all the way down to the hangar deck even using the fast express car.
“This whole thing.” Shelly said with a smile. “And they're going to go help people just like us.”
“And they need Liam?”
“Yes they do.”
“Should we stay and help? Maybe dad could come too?”
“No, we need to go visit your Gran again. She misses us and wants to see all of us this time, even your dad.”
“Oh, can we come back and visit Liam?”
Shelly laughed a little and stroked her son's cheek. “You like him, don't you?”
He nodded.
“Maybe some day, but not for a very long time. He's going to be very busy and very far away for a few years. I'm sure you can send him a message when we get to Gran's though. He might like that.”
“Okay.”
An Aucharian soldier walked over to them and smiled. “We can load you on the next one. We're loading it with everyone going to the Darian. ” s he said, holding her rifle across her armoured chest.
“Thank you,” Shelly replied, standing up. “Let's go Lawrence.” She took his hand again.
They walked across the hangar around other groups on their way to board shuttles made for four, six, eight and twelve. As they drew nearer it became clear they were being loaded onto one of the larger military boarding shuttles. “I thought these would be reserved for your people,” Shelly said to the soldier as she picked Lawrence up in her arms. He was getting a good look at the big dark grey ship.
“Most of us are staying. After seeing what Captain Valance can do with a converted cargo hauler and what's left of Enreega, we want to see what kind of fight he can put us in with the Triton. ”
“Good luck. I hope things work out,” Shelly said as she moved up the line.
“I have a good feeling about this ma'am, you'll hear about us again,” she replied with a smile. “You take good care of your son and tell Tanner that Junior Lieutenant Eccleston says hello.”
“You know my husband?”
“He was my commanding officer during my tour aboard station four. I wish he was coming with us but with you two around, I can see why he's moving on.”
“I'll tell him. Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
>
The last of the passengers loaded onto the boarding shuttle and Junior Lieutenant Jane Eccleston made sure the hatch was secure before signalling the temporary deck crew. “Only nine left, then we get to lock this hangar down until the Captain has a use for it again,” she said into her communicator. “Let's keep this accident free.”
“Ma'am, the Captain's on the line for you,” reported one of her soldiers.
“Put him through.”
“You're on with him now.”
“Captain Valance, I'm Junior Lieutenant Jane Eccleston. Our commanding officer has returned to the destroyer Verant, I took over.”
“Good work getting a deck crew organized. I'm impressed.”
“Thank you sir. My platoon prides itself on it's ability to improvise.”
“We received your qualifications, I'm impressed. When you're finished down there I'd like to see you on the bridge.”
“I won't go up unless you take all of us. Only three are returning to the Verant. ”
“Done. We need you. Captain Valance out.”
“Sounds like we've got a new boss.” Her communications officer said.
“Listening in again Sherman? You're going to have to drop that habit, Parsons put up with it while he was in command, but I won't,” Jane sighed and signalled another shuttle sealed and ready. “Put the rest of the platoon on the line, they should hear this.”
“Aye.” The transparent display inside her visor showed that all thirty six members of her platoon were listening in a moment later.
“I've spoken to Captain Valance. We're all welcome to join the crew,” Jane said, smiling to herself.
“Thank God, I was afraid we'd be on the run,” Said Kari.
“That's good news, too bad we lost a few,” added Frederick.
“Finally, some action!” Shouted Stephano.
“Another day, another outfit,” commented Marion.
“So we're going to actually get to work now? Not just inspect and polish for twelve hours a day? Finally,” complained Marcus.
“Having six shape shifters in the platoon probably informed his decision a bit.”
There were a number of other comments of approval and a couple wise cracks that overlapped and Jane couldn't help but grin as she watched the last pair of shuttles slowly drift out of the hangar.
“Quiet down, let's hear what we've signed up for,” Sherman said over everyone.
“I'm headed to the bridge to speak to the Captain in person. I expect he'll break us up a little, on a ship like this that's bound to happen, but we'll all be inside the same hull, fighting the same fight. I need everyone to be on their best behaviour, to do their best work. From what I've seen of the Triton, she's a mess, and we'll have to train while we make repairs.”
“Looks like half this stuff has been dormant longer than I've been alive.” Commented Nathan, her second in command. “And they added a few sections of ergranian steel that have been expanding unchecked for a while. It's going to be interesting trying to work that in. I've seen sections where the metal has grown right around cables and piping.”
“I'm going to find out what we can expect from Valent, what kind of experience he has with a ship this size, if any.” Julie continued as she stepped into an express car. There were three other people inside, one was Nathan, the other two she had seen helping on the hangar deck. “I'll update everyone once I know more, until then keep your eyes open for orders and directions from Triton command. I get the feeling that Captain Valance wants to pull things together fast. Eccleston out.” The channel closed and she looked to Nathan.
He was an issyrian just like her, and held a human shape as well. It made most people they worked with more comfortable. “There's barely any crew to speak of, glad we're here.”
“Aye, it's better than going back to the Verant and trying to make a go of that wreck.”
“Do you think he'll break us up?”
“I would. Two thirds of us are damage control specialists, the other third are security with extra training.” Julie said with a shrug.
“I wouldn't. I mean, everyone in the Platoon knows their way around repairing just about anything. Even Stephano can put a power transfer board together in his sleep and when he signed up a year ago he could barely plug in a space heater.”
“We'll see.”
“You two are headed to the bridge?” Asked an older gentleman. His wispy grey hair and well kept but his old, loose fitting vacsuit spoke of an age beyond either of the soldiers.
“Aye, our platoon is signing up. We're an emergency repair and recovery unit, thought we'd fit right in here. Junior Lieutenant Julie Eccleston at your service.”
“Good to meet you, I'm a shuttle and fighter technician. Used to work out of Station Three but got off just in time with about half my deck crew. Name's Angelo Vercelli.”
Nathan grinned at him. “I thought I recognized you. You're signing up with your team?”
“Aye, me and my second here, Paula.” He gestured to a younger, much shorter, slim woman in a similar vacsuit.
She nodded with a forced smile. “Long day.”
“You can say that again,” Julie agreed as the doors to the express car opened.
They walked across the broad hallway to the massive main doors to the bridge. As they approached heavy arms drew the thick armoured doors out and apart to reveal a sight unlike any of them had ever seen.
The main bridge of the Triton with the lower deck revealed seemed complex at first. There were a dozen stations along the walls and as many distributed throughout the room on each level. The clearly visible deep brown pathways on the floor leading to each station in a radial pattern also indicated where one would expect substations to be, where extra staff could help with regular operations. The space around the pathways was transparent deck plating, showing a tactical command center for fighters and larger vessels that was just as large and well equipped as the main bridge. Near the head of the bridge was a ramp leading down to the lower level on either side.
On the front wall there was a two dimensional display that took up most of the space there, to its right and left were doorways you could barely distinguish from the rest of the black walls. In front of the helm there was a large hologram of the Triton itself. Shaped like a large stingray from earth, it had three massive engines at the rear, and two nearer to the center of the underside. A pair of extra engines were built into the aft port and starboard ends of the ship. The overlay on the hologram detailed where work was being done, how many refugees were still aboard, where they were, and showed that a large transit ship had docked with them without permission. It's blocky hull hung off one side of the Triton like some kind of parasite and was coloured red to indicate it was an unwelcome guest.
The command seating in the center of the bridge was set atop semitransparent flooring and was five meters across. The captain's chair was in the center with two seats on either side. To their surprise an issyrian sat in the Captain's seat, looking over a holographic directory tree. “The Captain and his First Officer await you in his ready room,” the watch officer said in a pleasant tone, pointing to the door on the left. He was wearing a black armoured vacsuit unlike any they'd seen. It was sleek, form fitted with extra impact resistant sections over top, there were no visible seams and by looking at it they couldn't even determine for sure how one would remove the transparent oval faceplate. The design was simple and looked more efficient than their own, bulkier infantry armour.
The group of four walked down the short ramp that led into the bridge and followed a radial path down the side of the compartment. Everyone knew they could just as easily walk on the transparent section of the deck, but it seemed to make sense to follow the meter wide opaque paths that were plainly laid out, even though it forced them into single file.
The heavy ready room door was drawn aside to reveal a modest office. The wall behind the Captain was transparent, showing the field of stars and an edge of Enreega beyond. One of the smouldering cit
ies was just barely visible on its blue surface. “-long to figure out the lighting system. It's measured in lumens until you set it on a different scale,” the Captain was saying as they walked inside.
“Okay, that's strange though, everything else I've run into is on a scale of ten or one hundred,” replied the brown haired woman sitting on the Captain's desk. She was half turned towards the door.
They were both dressed in black vacsuits, not quite as well armoured as the one the watch officer was wearing. The material looked perfectly flexible and fitted to their forms, only two to five millimetres thick. They were sealed all the way up to the neck, leaving only their heads exposed.
“One thousand lumens is about the right starting point for a room like this.” Commented Angelo. “I usually set cockpit lighting down to four hundred, keeps the instrumentation nice and clear.”
“You're Angelo Vercelli,” The younger woman said, dropping from the desk to stand up straight, her knee high combat boots clomped against the deck. She offered her hand. “I'm Stephanie Vega, First Officer here on the Triton. ”
Angelo shook her hand. “This is my second in command, Paula Mendle.”
Stephanie went on to shake her hand, then looked to Jane and Nathan. After introductions were made all around, she sat back down on the edge of Captain Valance's desk.
“It's been a very long day for everyone, so I'll get to the point.” Captain Valance started. “ Triton needs you, I need you. We're in bad shape and automation is failing across the ship.”
“That's probably our fault, Captain. We disconnected the power in engineering as soon as we boarded,” Jane said with a nod. “Under orders.”
“I understand, but that's not the primary cause. When the former Captain put the automation in place he had to disable all the internal security to make it workable. Now that we've started bringing some of that back on line it's interfering with the automation.”
“How long has this ship been automated for?” Asked Nathan.
“Almost forty years from what I've been able to see in the logs.” Stephanie said. “They ran the ship with a crew of about one hundred.”
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