Jenetta was working at her desk when Lieutenant Ashraf notified her that Lieutenant Christa Carver was in the outer office.
"Send her in, Lori."
Jenetta jumped up from her desk and reached the door just as Christa entered. They hugged like close sisters who hadn't seen each other in a long time. The cats had followed Jenetta and sniffed at Christa, then stood watching the pair. After she and Jenetta finished hugging, Christa bent and petted the large cats.
"Hi Cayla, hi Tayna," Christa said, and the cats purred and mewled in response to the attention and brushed against her legs, pushing her backward a couple of steps until she braced herself against their affections. After a few seconds, she stopped petting them and stood up. The cats took that as a cue to stop rubbing against her, and returned to their normal resting spots on each side of the room.
"Come sit down," Jenetta said. "Tell me everything that's been happening."
"You already know all the high points from our messages. The rest is just the normal day to day stuff, but I've been waiting almost a year to hear your special news. Specifically, how did you get here? One week I get a message from you and you haven't crossed the old border yet, and then two weeks later you're at the border with the new Frontier Zone. How did you travel a hundred parsecs in two weeks when it should have taken you ten months aboard the Prometheus?"
"It's classified," Jenetta said innocently and teasingly.
"Come on, this is me; it's almost like talking to yourself, after all. And it's hardly a secret. The rumors are that you were placed in charge of testing some kind of secret new ship."
"The rumors?"
"Sure. Everyone knows somebody that was aboard the Prometheus when you left, or knows somebody who knows somebody. You can't keep a thing like this secret when thousands of people know that something really spectacular happened. Everybody knows that you did something that's never been done before. You crossed a hundred parsecs of space in two weeks. You might have been able to keep the travel quiet if you hadn't then attacked the Raiders and seized another base, intact, with just a crew of a hundred eighty-five. You should have seen the headlines back home. Good thing you're way out here or they'd still be throwing parades in your honor. So the travel isn't a secret. We just don't know how you did it."
"Neither do I, exactly. It wasn't anticipated at all. So far, all we have is theories. The Colorado has been sent back for testing so that they might define the mechanics of what caused the anomalous speed."
"You're kidding."
"Nope, we were as surprised as anyone when we learned how fast we'd traveled."
"So exactly how fast did you travel?"
"What do the rumors say?"
"Light-9750."
"Close. Actually it was a touch over Light-9790, but we're calling it Light-9790."
"Why did you come so far? If you had only traveled a short distance you could have kept it a secret."
"We were out of control; literally out of control. We lost communications, sensors, optics, everything. We didn't even know that we were setting a new speed record until we finally stopped after twelve and a half days. We expected to find the Prometheus alongside us once we stopped."
"Light-9790! Wow! And you didn't even know."
"Nope. We only knew that we were moving because of the vibration of the ship. We thought that if we disconnected the drive, we'd do irreparable damage, but we were on the verge of doing just that when the anti-collision system shut it down properly. Even so, it needed repair before it could be re-engaged, and we didn't have the proper replacement parts on board."
It's a miracle you didn't hit something."
"My chief engineer believes that we did. He believes that we passed though at least one object harmlessly, according to the mechanics of Transverse Phase Differential."
"Double wow! TPD. You know, I understand now how our brothers must have felt when we were reaping all the attention a few years ago. And I'm not thinking about the glory, but about the tremendous excitement. I've been sitting at the helm station of the Chiron, punching in minor course adjustments during the third watch every day, while you've been setting galactic speed records and seizing bases."
"How exciting was it a couple of years ago while you were shackled to the wall of a Tsgardi cell in the Boshdyte's brig?"
Christa thought for a few seconds. "I guess you're right. It looks a lot more exciting to everyone else."
* * *
Vyx was really looking forward to completing the loading of the ship. Before beginning, he had lowered the artificial gravity to one-sixth normal, and they were using 'oh-gee' blocks, but he was still exhausted at the end of each day. After two weeks of sixteen-hour work days, the ship was only half full. The holds were being packed bulkhead to bulkhead and deck to overhead. Normally, aisles were left in cargo areas so that someone could get through the hold to check on problems, but aisles were considered an extravagant luxury on this trip. And considering the cargo, if a problem such as a fire occurred, the crew would be lucky to get to the life pods before the ship disintegrated.
* * *
As had been her custom while serving as base commander at Dixon, Jenetta hosted a dinner for the senior staff of the Chiron on their first evening in port. The Chiron was the first new ship to arrive since the arrival of the ships that secured the base. Captain Powers wasn't at all surprised to see one of his junior officers among the attendees because he knew that Commander Carver would want her sister there. And as on previous such occasions at Dixon, the visiting crew wanted to hear all about Jenetta's exploits, and especially about the taking of the new base. Jenetta sidestepped questions about the trip in the Colorado by saying that Space Command had instructed her not to say anything, even though it was obvious from Christa's account of the rumors that there was no real secret to protect.
"It's a real story of David and Goliath," Captain Powers said, "taking this base and sixty-five hundred prisoners with just a crew of one-hundred eighty-five. And then holding it, alone, for months, through Raider attacks by cruisers and destroyers, just makes it that much more amazing. You make it sound so matter-of-fact in your retelling, but it's a great accomplishment."
"Thank you. I had the support of a great crew. They always came through for me."
"Where's your ship now, Commander? I'd love to take a look at it. Our scout ship wasn't ready when we had to leave, so we won't be getting it for a while."
"The Prometheus was ordered to return it for repairs and testing. I doubt that you would have been able to leave with yours, once we reported our–– problem, until they put it through a whole new series of tests and made some important modifications."
"A pity. We could really use such a weapon right now."
"Hopefully, not immediately. My latest communication from Space Command states that you'll be remaining here for the present so that the Thor can leave on patrol."
"That's correct. And two more ships should arrive over the next few weeks. We weren't the first to leave, but our greater speed allowed us to get here first. It was decided that Chiron should arrive as soon as possible, rather than traveling as a convoy with the other ships. The transport ships are sufficiently armed to travel in relative safety when there are two or more, and while traveling faster than light there's little danger anyway. Space Command will decide who will remain for the protection of the base and who will go out on patrol next."
"I imagine that the destroyer Asuncion will be the next to be released. They've been here even longer than the Thor. I can empathize with their desire to be out on patrol again. At least my days pass quickly because of my workload."
"You didn't request this assignment?"
"No, I think of myself as a line officer, not a base administrator. I was posted here because I was the only experienced base commander among the officers of the task force. I'm anxiously awaiting the return of the Prometheus, but that might not be for another fourteen or more months. And I don't even know that I'll be relieved here o
nce it does come back. It's up to Space Command HQ."
"For a base of this importance, they'll probably be sending someone quickly. It stated in my orders that this base was about to be designated as a StratCom-One base. No offense, Commander, nor is any slight of your abilities intended, but no StratCom-One base has ever been commanded by an officer below the rank of Rear Admiral, Lower, and the regs actually recommend that the base commander be a Rear Admiral, Upper. The next nearest StratCom-One base is Higgins at Vinnia, where Rear Admiral Holt is base commander. As you're well aware, Holt's a two star. The new base designation means that you're not only responsible for the base, but for all of space as far as halfway to Higgins. Until you're relieved, you outrank everybody, including all ship's captains, within two hundred to three hundred light-years."
"Perhaps technically, following the strictest interpretation of the regs, but patrol routes around a StratCom-One base are supposed to be established by the base commander. Here, the captain of each ship receives his or her patrol routes directly from Space Command. So I don't understand why Space Command upgraded us from StratCom-Three."
"StratCom-Three is the lowest designation for a large military base also functioning as a home port for military vessels. The whole purpose of designating a base StratCom-One is to allow the base commander to override orders from Space Command because of distance or security issues. I was quite surprised when I learned that Stewart had been designated that way, considering the base commander wasn't a flag officer. It shows the confidence that the Admiralty Board has in you. If a line officer does have to be posted off ship, I can't think of a better, more important, or more powerful position to be in. You're right in the middle of, potentially, the busiest place in Alliance territory. This sector faces the largest concentration of planets along our entire border, making it a gateway of sorts to Galactic Alliance regulated space, and you're far from Alliance politics and news reporters."
"It won't remain that way for long. From my experience with members of the press, I expect that reporters are already aboard ships bound for this station. It provides a moderately safe place from which they can file their stories, and over the next year we'll be welcoming embassy staffs, freight hauler representatives, and private entrepreneurs looking for concourse space. We still have a lot of construction work to be done. With our construction supplies arriving soon, I hope that I can count on help from your engineering staff while you're here. "
"We'll assist in any way that we can. Commander Elliot will contact your office tomorrow and arrange to meet with your chief engineer."
"Thank you, Captain."
* * *
After waiting in Jenetta's outer office for fifteen minutes, Lieutenant Commander Davis was permitted to go in when Jenetta's prior appointment left. He walked in and stopped at attention in front of her desk. "Lieutenant Commander Davis reporting to the base commander."
"Welcome, Commander. At ease. Have a seat."
"Thank you, ma'am."
"It's nice to see you again."
"It's nice to see you again, Commander. You've had a remarkable career since you were a young ensign assigned to my section at Higgins. And you don't look a day older than when we first met. Of course, everyone knows of your ordeal at the hands of the Raiders, and the DNA experiments that you were subjected to."
"It seems like a lifetime ago. How are you getting on? Have I assigned enough room for the new Science Section?"
"Very adequate, Commander. We have lots of room to grow as the section expands to meet the needs of Space Command."
"Excellent. What can I do you for you today, Commander?"
"I wanted to discuss sending out a ship to begin making astronomical observations. There's not much that can be done from inside this asteroid."
"I don't have any ships that can be used for that purpose right now, Commander. The ships in the port are required to remain here for the protection of the base, and we need dozens more warships just to patrol the immediate sectors for which this base is responsible."
"I understand that, Commander, but I've learned that you seized a number of Raider ships when you took this base. We brought several optical and radio telescopes with us, but I'd hesitate to put them in orbit nearby with so much traffic expected here. We have no need of warships and special hulls. Any one of the ships you seized will provide us with the stable platform that we need for our studies. "
Jenetta thought for a few seconds. "I don't think that would be wise, Commander. This is still very hostile territory. We haven't had sufficient time here to secure an area of influence where you would be fundamentally safe."
"We won't go very far, Commander. I promise to remain within one hour's travel time of your slowest destroyer."
"In one hour you can be killed, and your ship towed away without leaving a trace."
"Thirty minutes then. Commander, we can't do our job from inside this hunk of rock."
Jenetta leaned back in her chair. She didn't want to grant the request because of safety concerns, but as a former science officer and astrophysicist, she knew that the science people had a job to perform also.
"Okay, Commander, I'll give you a ship. But since I can't give you a ship that can be depended upon to provide adequate defense for your group, I'll only give you a very small ship that offers minimal value to the Raiders. It's unlikely that they'll venture within an hour of the base just to capture a small scout ship. We can equip it for basic research purposes, but it won't compare to a regular research vessel."
"I understand, Commander. How many people will it accommodate?"
Jenetta turned to her computer terminal and punched a few buttons. She scanned the information for a few seconds.
"The ship that I have in mind has quarters for eighteen. Since you won't be any further from this base than a hundred-billion kilometers, any warship from this base will be able to reach you in no more than thirty minutes. And when I say a hundred-billion kilometers, I mean a hundred-billion kilometers, Commander."
"Yes, ma'am. One hundred-billion kilometers from this base, and not one meter more. I understand."
"Good. I'll speak to my chief engineer and have him start preparing the ship. The Raiders called her the Poacher, but we can rename her something more appropriate, if you wish."
"How about, Star Gazer?"
"That's fine with me. Computer, is there any ship in the Space Command Ship Registry presently using the name Star Gazer?"
"Negative," the computer replied. "There is presently no listing for any GSC ship named Star Gazer."
"Computer, file an application for that name with Space Command and request an official identification be established. The ship currently named the Poacher in base records will now be designated as Star Gazer unless our application is disapproved. Purpose is astronomical observation and investigation of celestial phenomena."
"Application completed and forwarded to Space Command HQ," the computer said.
"There you go, Commander. Good luck. I'll see that a crew of six is assigned to the Star Gazer, allowing you a dozen berths for your people. In the event of contact with hostile forces, the crew will have orders to return here immediately. We'll dispatch a ship to intercept and escort you back should that happen."
"Thank you, Commander. I know that Lieutenant Kesliski will be very excited."
"Kesliski?"
"Yes. From our astrophysics section. She'll head up the team that goes out. I believe that you worked with her at Higgins."
"Yes, I worked for her. I remember Lieutenant Kesliski very well. I'm just surprised to hear that she's out here."
"I would have had trouble trying to keep her at Higgins once she learned that there was an opportunity to work at this base. We've never had a research vessel out this far. As you know, Space Command regulations require unarmed research vessels to remain within regulated Galactic Alliance borders."
"Yes, and that reminds me. Although this is considered regulated Galactic Alliance space, make sure t
hat everyone traveling in the Star Gazer understands that this is still hostile territory. Every one of your people must be a volunteer."
"Very well, Commander, volunteers only. But I don't expect that to be a problem."
Jenetta's last appointment before lunch was with the senior officer of the new Weapons Research section, Commander Barbara DeWitt. She was waiting in the outer office when Jenetta finished her meeting with Lieutenant Reese, the new Housing Officer that was taking that responsibility off Lieutenant Ashraf's shoulders. It had become an increasingly time-consuming part of her daily activities.
When told to go in by Lieutenant Ashraf, Commander DeWitt entered the office and stopped in front of Jenetta's Desk. Coming to attention, she said, "Commander DeWitt reporting to the base commander."
"At ease, Commander," Jenetta said, smiling. Standing up she offered her hand and Commander DeWitt took it. "It's good to see you again Barbara. Welcome to Stewart SCB."
"Thank you, Commander."
"It's still Jen, Barbara."
DeWitt smiled. "Of course, Jen. Thank you."
"Have a seat, Barbara. How are you getting on?"
"Fine. We've started organizing our space to fit our needs. Most of our equipment won't arrive for months. It's aboard one of the many slow quartermaster transports on their way here. But we have more than enough to keep us busy until then. How about you? You've come a long way since I first saw you during your court-martial."
"A lot has happened, that's for sure."
"I don't think that we've spoken in person since the day you were promoted to Lieutenant Commander, and here you are, practically a two star admiral."
Jenetta laughed. "Please don't wish that on me. Admirals spend all their days sitting behind desks."
"Don't you?"
Jenetta grimaced slightly. "Right now, but I expect to get back into space after they send someone to relieve me. I'm only the base commander because I was handy. I can't possibly remain in command of a StratCom-One base when regs specify that the base commander should be a Rear Admiral, Upper."
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