"For reasons I cannot fathom I was put in charge, but in charge I am. I want to rely on your experience, skills and knowledge to make this work. I need to be able to trust each of you to do your job in a manner that is becoming of the uniform we all wear. As soon as we lift off, I must rely on you to do your duty and to execute orders given. So if anyone holds similar opinions to the man who just left the bridge, please leave the bridge now, too.
"No record of it will be kept or the decision held against you, but I ask you to leave now! Anyone that stays and displays any sort of insubordination, from this moment forward, will be removed. Anyone wanting to discuss an order given or refusing to do what is asked of them, be warned. I will take any necessary action to restore order on the bridge. Please do not take my age or my previous rank as a sign of lack of resolve."
I paused and then said, "Now is the time to leave, ladies and gentlemen, or to stay and serve!"
It was quiet, but the female Lt. Commander stepped forward, saluted and said, "I am staying, Captain Olafson."
Now all the remaining officers stood up from their stations and saluted. An officer from the Auxiliary Fleet Management Board started clapping and they all joined. I raised my hand and motioned for silence. "Thank you for this vote of confidence and I am proud to serve with you. Now please, return to your stations and proceed with the daily tasks at hand."
I went to the command seat and sat down. As soon as I leaned back into the pseudo-leather I felt right as rain.
I observed two officers arguing with each other, they did it quietly, but still their gestures and body language were clear. They were standing near the elevator platform to CC.
"May I enquire about the nature of your disagreement?" I said, as one of them turned and looked my way.
They both approached. "Sir, we are not really arguing. Lt. Bernhard has a problem he thinks you can help with and I told him that this is a problem for Supply, perhaps for the XO, but nothing to bother the Captain with, Sir." He hurried to add, "Any Captain, Sir. I would have said the same if Captain Harris was sitting there."
"No one should think any problem is beneath me. So what is the problem, Mr. Bernhard?"
"Well Sir, the Devi isn't the kind of ship that makes planetfall all too often, so when we do, all supplies we need should be here. Yet we are short 5,000 Loki Torpedoes and 6,000 TL Kilo loads. That doesn't seem much, Sir, but when we need them I don't want to explain to the Old Man that we are short."
"I see."
"Now I wondered if you, the Captain that is, should call Portside Logistics. That was the argument."
"Comm., Get me Portside Logistics please."
"Aye, Sir, one moment."
It didn't take long and the bony face of a Skuhl appeared. He sounded angry as he barked, "Don't you see I am busy, that flying black hole sitting above us is sucking every last speck of supplies out of my warehouses."
"I am Captain Olafson of the USS Devastator. That flying black hole you just mentioned, my staff just informed me that there are shortages in munitions, namely Loki Torpedoes and Translocator Bombs."
"Captain … who?" He turned his head to the side. Someone else seemed to be talking to him, and then he said, "Sorry Sir, I was just informed that there is a new Acting Captain commanding the Devi." He intoned the Acting in a stretched manner, with a clearly sarcastic message. Then he added, "Even if the Immortal himself would call, I am a Logistics Officer and not a magician. I can't conjure up what isn't there. The next supply convoy is due in nine days."
"Mr. Logistics Officer, I will have the supply orders checked. The Devi did not arrive out of schedule. That she would be here on the third was known for at least a year. That means someone at Logistics either ordered the wrong amount or has dispensed munitions allocated for the Devi to other ships. Given the nature of the missing supplies, I am sure NAVINT will also look into it."
He did not look happy, even for a Skuhl, who always had a very serious facial expression. "Captain Sir, maybe I can place a system-wide order. I am confident we can draw from depots at Arsenal II and VI and have the Devi fully stocked by tomorrow night."
"Maybe you should consider a career change. Looks like you are a magician after all. Captain Olafson out!"
The Officer next to me said, "Sir, that was brilliant!"
"Don't thank me too early, Lieutenant. I really want those lists checked and it seems you're the one doing it. Don't make a big fuss if it really was just an error, but raise hell and NAVINT if they are missing."
"Aye, Sir."
The two left and I saw a Yeoman bringing coffee to several duty stations and I sighed to myself. "What would I give for a coffee and a sandwich!"
"I got you coffee right here. What kind of sandwich do you want, Sir?"
I turned and Harris held a cup of coffee under my nose.
"Any kind of fish sandwich will be fine. Tuna would be great."
Harris waved at the Yeoman and said, "Get a big platter with tuna sandwiches up here on the double."
To me, he said, "I liked your speech to the bridge crew!"
"Well I had to do something."
"What do you want to do with Carrows?"
"What would be your suggestion?"
"I would hit him with the book. Full court martial. We can't have anyone threaten officers."
"I’d like to investigate this and make sure it was not another test by Admiral Stahl. I would not put it past him to have an officer act that way. I’d like a written statement by Lt. Carrows on my desk by tonight and I’d like to talk to his immediate supervisor."
Harris raised an eyebrow. "Yes Sir!"
Then he plunged into the XO seat. "Believe it or not, I just learned something from you. The way you dealt with that Logistics Officer had style."
"It's the same story on Nilfeheim. Whenever Shortsummer is about to begin and everyone wants their boats ready, the equipment dealer is always short, only to manage to get the requested things anyway when you offer more money or threaten to cut his head off. Father always opted for the second solution."
The sandwiches came and I wolfed them down like a starving tyranno. I realized I hadn't really eaten anything in days.
"Captain, we have a takeoff window for 13:12 hrs."
All crew were on board and accounted for, cargo transfer operations were completed and all hatches were closed. The Devastator was ready and so was I.
"Helm, go to zero grav. Keep station. Retract landing gear and report when ready."
"Tactical, activate shields, stand by on tractors to repulse any objects in our flight path."
"Standing by on tractors, shields are up."
"Sound General Quarters!"
"Captain, landing gear is in. We are at zero grav keeping station."
"Aft grav to minus 1 stern grav to minus 3. OPS, switch main viewer to port cams."
The view screen switched to a visual sensor mounted to the Port Control tower. The Devastator disc was slowly standing up at one end. When the disc was at 90 degrees I said, "Stern grav to zero. Aft grav to minus 4."
"Stern grav zero, aft at minus 4."
The Devastator was slowly rising into the sky and, due to its size, was already half in the cloud cover. The port cam followed the moving ship and after more than an hour of snail pace ascent, the ship’s aft disappeared in the clouds.
"Main viewer to standard. Stern grav to 8."
After over three hours we passed the last traces of atmosphere and I said, "Stand down from General Quarters. Tactical shields down, secure tractors."
"Helm take us out heading zero-zero-zero. Ahead slow."
Harris handed me an e-board. "These are our cruise orders, Sir. We are to deploy to the Glavan Sector and suppress pirate activity."
"Thank you Mr. Harris. Helm, lay in a course to the Glavan sector, ahead full. Go to trans light and standard cruise."
"Sir, we are receiving an assistance request from Space Fort 77N at the GC border."
I looked to Harris but he
just shrugged and whispered, "It is your show."
"Comm., put it on main."
"This is deep space border control station Fort 77 N. Requesting tactical assistance from any Navy ship within range."
"Helm, lay in a course to the fort."
I then thumbed the Comm. "This is Acting Captain Olafson of the USS Devastator. Fort 77N, state the nature of your emergency."
"This is Commander Bonneholm. This is no emergency, at least not yet. We are observing a Kermac ship approaching our station at high speed. A fleet of more Kermac ships are following it and we registered weapon fire. We are not equipped to deal with an entire Kermac fleet and if they keep this course we are going to be involved."
"We are on our way, Commander. Please relay your sensor readings to us and stand by." To Mr. Harris I said, "Contact Fleet Command and advise them of the situation and that we are going to assist the Space Fort, if necessary!"
"I am on it, Sir."
The main screen changed to a tactical 3D view of the sector and the Union and GC borders were displayed in red. A red dot was moving at high speed, directly towards the station and 12 red dots were right behind it.
On-screen scanner data confirmed sporadic weapon fire from the pursuing fleet towards the vessel. It would reach the deep space station within the next 20 minutes.
"Either a spy of ours or a renegade of theirs is trying to make it across the border and hoping the others won't follow," Harris said.
I rubbed my chin. "Or it is an elaborate Kermac set up."
I sat back. "Sound battle stations!"
Harris said, "We can't do anything while they are on their side!"
"I know that Mr. Harris," I snapped at him, "It doesn't hurt to be prepared!" I immediately regretted my tone of voice but I remembered General Lichfangh's advice not to apologize. So I added, "I am very grateful for your advice Mr. Harris."
He just nodded but I could have sworn a smile was creeping across his face.
"Comm., Open all known Kermac channels and put as much power in the transmission as you can. I want them to hear me for sure!"
"Aye Captain. Opening channels with maximum transmitting energy."
"This is the USS Devastator and I am Captain Olafson calling the Kermac vessels currently on course towards our base. While I don't care what you do on your side, be advised I will consider any trespass into our space, without proper authorizations, as a hostile act. I will consider any accidental stray shot that hits our station or any other Union target as an aggressive act and will retaliate without further warning. This I say, just in case you accidentally launch some sort of weapon, that without any intent of yours, comes our way. Olafson out!"
"Sir we are being hailed by the fleeing ship! The pursuing fleet is jamming but I am getting some of it!"
"Put it on!"
"Devastator this is … vack . We request political assylu … Our … ip damaged. We ha … e vital information for your government!"
"Fleeing vessel. I understand your request for political asylum. You are allowed to cross the border. You will shut down any and all energy-producing equipment immediately after crossing and shut down your drive. Any signs of shields, weapon activity or energy signatures and we will open fire!"
"Travac … understood. No wea … ns, no shields."
"Comm., Inform Fleet Command and NAVINT. Relay all data and transmissions and raise sector alert. OPS, search all NAVINT data bases for Travack or similar names and prepare an Intel report on recent Kermac activity in this area."
"Aye, Sir."
"Tell the Flight boss to standby for fighter wing action."
"Wings going on hot standby, Sir!"
The fleeing vessel was now less than five minutes from the border, but the pursuing ships gained slowly. A salvo of faster-than-light energy beams scorched the fleeing ship’s shields and its aft shield collapsed.
"Well, they seem to have heeded your warning. They are not using their torpedoes," said Harris. "They are in range for them now."
The very moment the vessel crossed the border another salvo hit it and shredded its aft section.
The pursuing vessels came dangerously close to the border but changed course back to where they had come from.
The fleeing ship drifted over the border with a cloud of debris.
"Helm, maintain distance to the ship and the debris, don't let them come closer. Tactical, maintain full shields. Science, I want a complete analysis of the ship and the debris."
"Science here, Sir. The Kermac ship is a standard Kermac battle cruiser, they have not shut down all shields, and I still detect standby energies to weapons and communication equipment."
I cursed. "I knew it! Tactical, target energy sources and fire micro loads. When all shields are down hit it with tech stop and Paralysators!"
"You knew what, Sir?" Harris wanted to know.
"It's a scam, a trap. Those pursuing ships could have destroyed it at any time before it came over. They gained on it only at the very last moment and the ship drifting over did not shut down all energy because they are hiding something. Our shields do protect us from Psionic attacks, right?"
"Yes Sir. The Devastator is equipped with the finest Saresii Psi shields and sensors."
"Science here, Sir. I am detecting a faint concentration of dust or very small particles drifting at an accelerated rate towards us. It comes from the shredded aft section."
Helm, back up, stay away from it. Science, launch a lab probe. Get me a full analysis of the dust."
"Aye, Sir."
"Captain, I have disabled the other vessel. Tech stop and Paralysators proved effective," Tactical reported.
Tech Stop was a concentrated directed EMP pulse of incredible intensity that stopped any electron flow in an un-shielded target.
I waited. Everyone seemed to wait for a command of mine, but I waited for the Science results.
"Helm, are you keeping your distance?"
"Yes Sir, I am reversing at the same speed as the dust particles."
"Fine, scan the wreck. I still don't trust that they are completely disabled. See if you can identify energy-shielded areas that only seem inert. Black areas on the sensor picture especially. Tactical, remain alert. If anything at all over there moves, destroy it. You have fire permission. Flight Boss, launch a wing of Wolfcrafts but tell them to remain behind the Devastator and keep distance to dust and wreck."
"Aye, Sir."
I glanced over to the Science Officer. He was working with his staff over readouts and they whispered back and forth.
Then he turned. "Sir, we went over the results of the probe twice and we sent a data package to Archimedes and Sares Prime. Saresii scientists are in contact with us now and they believe the dust is similar to Piostla spores."
"Update me on that. I am not too familiar with the Piostla."
"Sir the Piostla were a sentient species of botanical origin. They were intelligent plants if you will, closely related to fungi. Their only, but very effective, weapon was Psionic spores that carried mental hypno-suggestive commands out of anyone making contact. Back then Union ships fought Union ships thinking they were fighting the enemy."
"Collect a sample of the spores with the robot drone and move it to a safe distance away from the ship and station for later collection."
"Yes Sir."
"Sir, I am registering what I believe to be faint life signs and a rapidly-building energy source at the wrecked ship," reported Science.
"Flight deck control, launch the Bison. To the Wolfcraft fighters: circle around the dust and stand by at the other side of the wreck. I expect an escape pod; catch it with tractors and tech stop if you can. Destroy it if you can't!"
"Aye, Sir!"
There was a surprised sound coming from one of the bridge officers when just a moment later a small craft emerged from the wreck and headed with high speed towards the border.
"Sir, the pursuing fleet has turned as well and is once more on a course towards us."
&
nbsp; The Wolfcraft fighter fired and disabled the escape pod’s drive in a masterful shot. The pilot then used his ship to nudge the escape pod off course, so it would not drift over the border. The Bison, an engineering multi-task shuttle, extended its claws and secured the pod moments later.
"Bison and Wolfcraft, go to a safe distance and standby. Science, how can we destroy that dust?"
"I suggest a grav mine in the center. It will attract it all and then we fire an antimatter load!"
"Do it!"
"Sir, we are being hailed by the Kermac fleet."
"Terran vessel, we observe you have confined an escape pod with Kermac nationals. We demand immediate release. This was a military exercise and the ship on your side lost control. We are prepared to take action if our demands are not met!"
"This is the USS Devastator," I said with a jovial, friendly tone. "You are prepared to take action; you won't be surprised to hear that I am prepared to retaliate. If you want to continue this I suggest you go home to Kermac and get a whole lot more ships. Those 12 toy boats you brought along won't do the trick."
"We will contact your government and demand the release of our nationals."
"You just do that, and while you do the contacting, explain to our government what you wanted to do with those Psi spores. It could be considered an act of war!"
"A mere accident, human Captain, a scientific accident. We thank you for bringing that to our attention. We will leave now and hope to have our scientists released to us at your earliest convenience."
The Kermac ships turned again and left at high speed.
The Science officer stepped up the ramp. "Sir, I think I figured it out. The spores are designed to cling to any surface and remain dormant and almost undetectable, but once a ship lands they spread in the planet’s atmosphere and cause Psionic havoc by suggesting mass suicide and the spreading of the spores to other planets. The Saresii colleagues consider my theory highly probable!"
Harris gasped. "By God, we would have infested Arsenal IV the next time we landed."
I nodded. "That was the whole reason for the charade. I bet the Kermac aboard that escape pod expected us to open hangars and launch Marines to board them; that would have given the spores a chance to come inside and we would have been susceptible to their Psionic commands."
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 18