When the atmosphere was reduced to forty percent of normal, the airlock ramp doors were closed. Forty percent of normal is equivalent to being at twenty-three thousand feet elevation on Earth. Anyone used to a full atmosphere, the normal condition in space stations, will only remain conscious for four to ten minutes, and then only in a progressively debilitated condition. Prolonged exposure would result in death, and even temporary exposure can have serious consequences. The habitat's life support systems were already trying to rebuild the pressure, and although it would take hours to return to normal, it should rise quickly enough to prevent any deaths in otherwise healthy individuals.
As soon as the airlock ramps were closed and the hurricane like wind had subsided, the Marines unhooked themselves and moved into the main cargo area. Sensor equipment helped them locate rebels who had been lying in ambush. Securing the rebels, the Marines lifted their unconscious or semi-conscious bodies onto 'oh-gee' sleds for delivery to a central collection point. Most of the Raiders who had failed to report for evacuation were collected within the first half-hour. Those who regained consciousness as the pressure increased were still unable to function properly when they were taken prisoner.
It would have been great if every one of the rebels had still been incapacitated until the collection finished, but some had recovered by the time the Marines reached them. A few pitched battles took place in remote areas of the habitat, but the Marines slowly took the station, as everyone knew that they would.
By 0800 hours the next morning the habitat was declared secure, and all rebels had been accounted for. The Marines had worked all night to clear the eighteen levels, using sensors that could pick up the heartbeat of a mouse at a hundred meters. Port sweepers had also worked steadily since the airlock ramps were closed. Visibility outside had been restored by fifty percent. Half a dozen bodies picked up in the cavern cleaners were turned over to the station morgue, which had also received the bodies of the rebels that had continued to resist after recovering from the depressurization. The other rebels had been taken to the detention center and placed in cells after being fitted with Raider restraint bands.
The restraint bands, placed on a prisoner's wrists, ankles, waist, and neck, stretched like elastic until they were locked on by a signal from a small electronic controller. The neck band, capable of emitting a shock that would incapacitate a prisoner when a button on the controller was depressed, was the most despised. There were five levels of shock, but rarely was level two ever exceeded, since level one was enough to cause the prisoner to fall to the ground writhing in pain. With the press of another button, the wrists were pulled to the waist. Raider captives had suffered broken bones when trying to stop that from occurring, and no one had ever prevented it. A different button pulled the prisoner's ankle restraints together. Space Command and Space Marine personnel were restricted from using the shock capability of the restraints. But they were permitted to use the constraint feature to help subdue prisoners.
Summoned to the bridge in the morning, Jenetta was directed to the captain's briefing room. She entered as soon as the doors opened.
"Did you wish to see me, Captain?"
"Have a seat, Jen," he said. He seemed ill at ease and Jenetta immediately felt a sense of intense foreboding. After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, he said, "I don't know how to say this in any way that will please you, so I'll just blurt it out. Effective today, you're in command of this station."
"Oh, Captain," Jenetta groaned. "You wouldn't do that to me again, would you? Last time, it took me two years to get back to the Prometheus."
"I know, but it can't be helped. You're the most qualified individual that we have among the officers in this task force. You took over Raider Three in the first hour following our attack, and in a matter of months converted it into a first class Space Command base. This base is even more crucial to our needs. We're only a dozen light-years from the new Frontier Zone. We need this base desperately, to support our future operations in this territory."
"But there must be somebody else who would appreciate this wonderful opportunity," Jenetta said facetiously.
"This isn't my decision, Jen. You know the high regard that I have for you. I don't wish to lose you as my XO anymore than you wish to leave the ship. This comes directly from Space Command Supreme HQ on Earth."
"Earth? Then you knew about this before today?"
Captain Gavin sucked in his breath and exhaled. "I received the orders on our journey here. They were only to be given to you if we were successful in taking the habitat intact, but I can tell you that the Admiralty Board was ecstatic when they learned that you had secured a base of operations for us, so close to the new border."
Jenetta scowled. "Good thing I didn't know. I might have been tempted to fire my torpedoes into it before you arrived."
Captain Gavin smiled. He knew his first officer well enough to realize that she wasn't serious. "I guess that's why they instructed me to tell you only after the seizure was complete."
"They knew I wouldn't be happy."
"They're all experienced officers. They know that the service is made up both of individuals who wish to be posted to a ship, and those who prefer being posted on Earth or to a planet-side base. I think that you're looking at this all wrong; this isn't a punishment. You're being placed in command of the most important base in all of Galactic Alliance territory. It's our most forward base now, in fact the only base in the former Frontier Zone, and it's proximity to the border means that it will become the focal point of operations for hundreds of light years in every direction."
"Aye, sir."
"And being so far away from Earth, you'll have little contact with politicians and diplomats. That's usually an enormous plus for most line officers."
"After I completed my duty as base commander of Dixon, Admiral Holt confided in me that Supreme HQ had wanted me to remain there for a full five year tour of duty. He said that he had to fight to get me back aboard a ship. Sir, is this another attempt to turn me into a port administrator?"
"I honestly don't know if there are other motives involved here. I do know that you're the most qualified officer for the job, and based solely on that, I'm forced to endorse your appointment. You're the only experienced base commander this side of Dixon. You can whip that base into shape faster and better than anyone else within five hundred light-years; including me." Changing the tone of his voice from authoritative to friendly, he added, "Jen, I've been advised that the Prometheus will have its home port assignment changed to this base if we were successful in taking it intact, so this time we'll be nearby when your service at the base is concluded."
"That's something, I guess," Jenetta sighed. "Very well, sir. When do I take command?"
"Immediately. Pack your things and leave when you're ready. Major Visconti has been informed that you've been named as permanent base commander. Your job should be easier here than at Raider Three. Our ships are all intact, so we'll be able to supply you with all the manpower that you need to get things straightened out. You'll have first access to all personnel not needed for security work or emergency repairs, and the entire task force will be standing by for at least two weeks. It will take that long for new orders to come through now that I've sent my report on the operation to Space Command."
"Aye, Captain. I just hope that 'permanent base commander' doesn't mean what it sounds like."
Jenetta walked to her quarters and packed her things. Stacking her cases by the door, she completed a second sweep of the four rooms to make sure that she had packed everything. Once she located her new quarters, her bags would be brought over.
Jenetta turned to her pets and said, "Cayla, Tayna, we're moving into the station." The large cats sprang to positions at her side as she left her quarters and walked to the airlock.
The passageway where the engineers had jammed the emergency bulkhead was a mess. It was filled with crates and objects that had gotten stuck as they were being sucked out, creating so
rt of a dam. Marines were busy trying to un-jam the debris and engineers were standing by, ready to undo the measure that they had performed to keep the bulkhead from dropping into position. The other passageways had been opened though, and Jenetta used one of them to reach the main cargo sorting area.
Depressurizing the habitat wasn't responsible for a tenth of the damage Jenetta discovered when she made it through the passageway. The Raiders had apparently released pent-up aggressions that resulted from months of being cooped up as prisoners, by smashing walls, equipment, and furniture. Raider Three had at least been neat and orderly when she took over. This station looked like the pictures of deserted buildings in the large Earth cities of the late twentieth century. She shook her head as she walked along.
"Pretty bad, isn't it, ma'am," she heard from behind her. Turning, she saw Major Visconti walking towards her.
"Yes, but I guess it was to be expected."
"Prisoners are the same the galaxy over. They wreck the decent places where they're held, and then condemn their jailors for forcing them to live in substandard conditions."
"How are the housing areas?"
"About the same, for the general population. There are a few exceptions here and there. The officer's quarters are much better, and the base commandant's quarters are orderly. You can move in whenever you're ready, by the way. I've had Commandant Bacheer's personal effects boxed and removed from both his quarters and his offices."
"Thank you, Major. And congratulations on a successful operation. I'm sorry about the injuries that your people suffered."
"Thank you, Commander. Only three were injured seriously, and all will recover and be back on active duty within a few months. It would have been much worse if you hadn't depressurized the habitat. They had stockpiles of weapons and explosives at the ready."
"Has the habitat been swept for mines and booby-traps?"
"Yes, ma'am. My people found a few crude devices, but I guess not knowing how long they were going to have to live here, or if their comrades would mount a successful counterattack against our forces, stopped them from doing anything on a large scale. They didn't want to be blowing up themselves or their own people."
"How soon can I borrow some of your Marines?"
"Most of them are sacked out right now. We worked all night searching the habitat. You can have them in eight hours."
"Good. Our first task is to clean out nine large warehouses and seal any alternate entrances/exits. You were at Raider Three so you know what we did. We have more than double the number of prisoners here since we didn't have the ship to ship battle. I'll get the engineers ready to start constructing shower and toilet facilities in six of the warehouses. We'll have to house about a thousand people in each 'prison dormitory', and we'll need at least two of them ready by tomorrow. The ships are bulging at the seams."
"Aye, Commander. We'll be on it as soon as my people are rested."
"Thank you, Major. You'd better get some rest also."
"Yes, ma'am. I wanted to wait until you assumed command."
"You're relieved, Major."
"Thank you, Commander. Goodnight."
"Good morning, Major."
Major Visconti turned and walked towards the passageway that would take him to the Prometheus as Jenetta walked along one of the fifteen-meter wide roadways that ran for most of the length of the habitat on this level. Once beyond the large open area referred to as the main cargo area, enormous warehouses that extended from the deck to the twenty-five-meter high ceiling filled both sides of the 'road' without interruption. The main cargo area was always kept as open as possible. Raider ships coming in had their entire cargo brought there so that it could be inspected and sorted before being taken to the appropriate warehouses for storage. Cargo loads for outgoing ships were likewise assembled there before container loading commenced. Jenetta was able to confirm that the layout was almost identical to that found on Raider Three, now Dixon Space Command Base.
After deciding which warehouses would be used to house the prisoners, and which would be used as exercise compounds, Jenetta took an elevator to the third level up and walked to the Commandant's offices. They would now serve as her offices while she was the base commander.
Identical to her offices on Dixon, she had a full-wall, three-dimensional SimWindow where recorded vid images taken on Earth and other planets could be displayed, making it appear that you were really there. She could also view a real time image of the cavern outside the base. Using special cameras and sensors, the computer would make it appear as though you were looking at the ships through a window. The computer enhanced the image of the cavern to make it appear like a large, well-illuminated warehouse, instead of the dimly lit cavern that it actually was. Jenetta could imagine Commandant Bacheer sitting here, staring out at the Colorado, its torpedoes armed and locked onto the habitat.
Taking a seat behind the desk, she touched the face of her ring to activate a carrier signal. "Commander Cameron," she said.
After a few seconds she heard, "Cameron here, Commander."
"Bill, I need your help. We'll need to set up showers and toilet facilities here, like we did at Dixon."
"Aye, Commander. I've already got my people working on them. We'll be ready to start installing them as soon as you have some space emptied for us."
"Thanks, Bill. I'll also need a complete check performed on all airlocks and emergency bulkheads once the passageway near airlock pier November is cleared and repaired."
"Aye, Commander. I've already issued the orders."
Jenetta smiled to herself. "I don't suppose you've arranged for a hundred cooks for me?"
Lieutenant Cameron quipped, "Sorry, Jen. I can't even make toast without burning it."
"Okay, Bill. Thanks. Carver, out."
As her two cats explored and sniffed every inch of the large office, Jenetta started working on a list of items and personnel that she'd need to pull the base together. The place was a mess, but Captain Gavin had promised that the engineers of all the ships would be available for work in setting up the base if they weren't required for emergency work on their ship, at least for the next two weeks. She would have to press hard to get as much done as possible before ships started receiving orders to leave on patrol. She was also going to need a staff after the ships started to leave.
When her list was prepared, she placed a call to Captain Gavin.
"Sir, I've prepared a basic list of our needs."
"Transmit it to me, Jen."
Jenetta pressed a button on the portable pad and the list appeared on Captain Gavin's com panel. He nodded as he scanned it visually.
"This is quite a list. I'll get the personnel officer on each ship working on it. How do things look over there?"
"It's a disaster, sir. The Raiders had little to do over the past six months, so they apparently spent their free time trashing the habitat. I'm going to take a complete tour after I finish speaking with you, but I wanted to get this first list ready so people could start assembling the things that we'll need. I'll probably have another list, just as long, after my tour."
"Very well, you have top priority for our resources."
"Sir, how can I build a staff from the few ships in the task force? It'll take one to two years for newly assigned administrative personnel to arrive here. And what will we do with the prisoners? We'll need dozens of prisoner transport ships, and there are less than a dozen in the entire Space Command fleet."
"Space Command has been working on those problems since you first notified us that you had captured this base last August. Ships and people are already on the way here and have been for months. Even if we hadn't been able to capture the habitat intact, we would have used the asteroid as a base. Personnel would have lived aboard ships until the habitat could be restored to usable condition."
"What about the prisoners, sir?"
"I don't think HQ realized that we'd have so many, but we'll get by as best we can."
"We'll still hav
e to wait for as long as six months for the first ships to arrive, even if they left immediately from Dixon after receiving my first report regarding our seizure of the asteroid."
"True, but other ships will be stopping here now. Personnel can be swapped and transferred temporarily until the permanent personnel arrive. I'm sure that things will work out, Jen."
"Yes sir. With Space Command resources being so stretched, will the standard procedure of never having less than five battle-ready warships docked at a forward base be continued?"
"I'm sure that Space Command will do the best they can. As you say, we're stretched pretty tight right now, and we'll probably continue to experience limitations for quite a while. But I'm sure that you'll always have several here at least."
"Aye, Captain. Well, I suppose that I should be off on my tour. I'll contact you after I'm done to give you an updated report on the condition of the base."
"Prometheus, out."
"Uh, Carver out," Jenetta blurted out, suddenly realizing that there wasn't any official designation for the base yet. She couldn't very well use the Raider Eight designation.
'This base is eighteen levels of mess and destruction', Jenetta thought as she completed her tour. Commandant Bacheer obviously hadn't maintained very tight control over his people, but that was understandable. They no longer considered the base theirs, and in fact it had become their prison. Vital areas, such as life support and the power generation sections, hadn't been touched, for obvious reasons. They hadn't been so crazed as to kill themselves. But non-essential areas had been trashed. The computer center wasn't damaged, but they had destroyed all backups and erased the files. As at Dixon, computer experts would be called upon to see if any important data could be recovered from the system before Space Command software was loaded. It would be difficult operating without a central computer, but they could use remote connections to a system aboard one of the battleships for now. The IT experts might have to content themselves with files they might recover from the ships damaged while they were parked at the docking piers.
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