“You’re all talk Dave Warner.” She grabbed his proffered hand and helped him to his feet. Once upright he took her in his arms and with a hand on each of her buttocks gave them a squeeze and pulled her to him. “mmm…maybe not” she said softly.
Chapter 6. Hermes over Raleigh 0400, 20 September
“The ship’s yours pilot” said Chase.
“The ship’s mine” responded James Rao. The handshake with control was finished and they were on their final approach. They would be down on the deck at the Chester space port in less than twenty minutes.
“Well done Chase” complimented Dave.
“Thanks Sir.”
Dave rose from his chair and walked past Chase forward into the cockpit where James was steering the frigate. Chase came along side and they both stared out of the forward canopy. They could make out the massive dark orb that was Raleigh. It was coming up fast.
“So this is home for the next two years” said Chase. He pointed to a concentration of light dots ahead. “How big is Chester?”
“Not that big. When I was here last and that was about ten years ago it was only around a million people.”
“Gentlemen could you please take your seats” asked Rao. Then he hailed on the ship wide channel “Entering atmosphere in two minutes. Buckle up.”
There was a fair bit of turbulence once they entered the atmosphere. As he was being shaken in his chair Dave thought ‘I was hoping for a smooth ride.’ He began saying the mantra to himself. It was reassuring. The buffeting stopped as the frigate broke into a calmer layer of air.
“Landing in two minutes” hailed James. He was decelerating the ship and vectoring it onto the approach path that control was providing. Once on the approach path he kept switching his focus between the view ahead and the 3D display showing the progress of the ship on the approach route. If the ship’s icon turned blue he would lower the nose down. With a red icon he would raise it. Yellow and he would vector left. Green and he would vector right.
James recalled the time after their last system refit when he was describing the new controls to his skipper and said ‘it’s like riding a roller coaster’ and how he had regretted the analogy almost immediately and how Dave had responded ‘really?’
They were now below 3000m and broke through the light cloud. James got his first real sight of Chester. He could see the runway beacons ahead. He began decelerating more rapidly. The approach display warned him to decelerate more. He did so. The runway was still coming up fast but within acceptable limits. He began phasing in the vertical retroes once he was over the start of the runway and managed to time the transition from thrusters to forward retroes just right. He smiled to himself as he gently descended and taxied over to Bay 4 as directed by control. The ground crew came forward once touchdown was confirmed and secured the ship.
“Welcome to Raleigh folks” said James. “You can release your harness.”
“Nice landing” said Dave and he hoped it was a good omen.
Dave knew that it was far too early for any real business so he left Chase and Val to handle the administrative and logistic arrangements. He and Art disembarked and entered the terminal. The log sergeant directed them to control where they found the officer of the watch. He noted their arrival in the log and said he would advise the Base commander as soon as he got in, which would be around 0830.
They took a walk around the terminal to stretch their legs and both agreed that it hadn’t changed much in the last ten years. A display on the wall of the main concourse was broadcasting the latest news. Neither paid it any attention until a picture of Sue appeared on screen.
“That’s Sue I’m sure” said Art and they quickly walked the twenty paces to the screen. The sound was off but the ticker feed ran the title ‘War over. Treaty of Chalker heralds new era of peace. War hero to be honoured.’
“Turn the sound up” said Art. But Dave was struggling to get the screen controls to respond. There was a clip of the destruction on New Hamersley. Finally the sound came up ‘If not the sleth then who?’ said the voiceover and then the image switched to the talking head in the studio with a segway to the next item.
“Come on” said Art “let’s get back to the ship and get the latest.”
Twenty minutes later Dave turned to Ivan in the briefing room and said “that’s enough thanks Ivan.”
Ivan switched off the display and said “Well who would have thought.”
“Yeah my Sue must have made quite an impression on those snakes” said Art. “Normally they name treaties after places don’t they?”
“Yeah I think so” responded Dave.
“Oh boy she’s going to be hard to live with now” joked Art. But Dave could see a flush of pride on Art’s face.
“Where did they say the sleth were being resettled?” asked Dave.
“Fulmar wasn’t it” chimed in Ivan.
“Shit that’s in the Bellatrix system. Ivan, bring up the star charts.”
Ivan brought up the 3D star charts on the holo display, searched for Fulmar and the display zoomed in highlighting the planet.
“I knew it” said Dave.
Ivan also selected Raleigh “Crickey, they’re in our sector.”
“We just can’t get away from them can we” said Art.
“Makes sense though” said Dave. “It puts a lot of distance between them and the rogan.” Then he thought about that and added “I wonder…”
Chapter 7. Chester Control 0930, 20 September
They had to wait a while before the Base Commander could see them. Finally he came out through his door and introduced himself. “Gentlemen I’m Commander Dieter Goldberg. Welcome to Chester.”
Dieter was a precise man in a precise figure. Of average height and build he carried himself in a precise manner. But he did it naturally. It wasn’t forced, well not now but most likely it had been twenty years ago.
He ushered them into his office and bid them to take a seat. “I’m afraid the Admiral’s away on the Chicago at the moment, along with his chief of staff (COS). They’re not scheduled back for another week. Admiral Wyatt left me these orders for you and told me to show you around. You’ll note from your orders that you will be here for the next ten days. So I have taken the liberty of scheduling a round of briefings with the respective staff officers both here at the spaceport and at Raleigh HQ which is not far away.”
Without pausing for a breath he continued “Accommodation here is still pretty tight. We won’t have sufficient suitable accommodation available till the Perth heads back to Polaris. Your’ replacing them you see. They were supposed to head back two days ago but the Admiral insisted they be part of his current mission.”
“What is their current mission?” interjected Dave.
“There’s been another attack, this time on a convoy out of Turintia in the Mintaka system bound for Bellan in the Alnitak system. The admiral’s committing his big guns in a hope to intimidate and stop these pirates.”
“Another attack?” asked Art. “Our briefing on Polaris said that it was all quiet here.”
“Yes well every now and then some low life gets a little cocky and tries their hand at some easy money. Intel is that it’s the same craft responsible for two attacks in just under two weeks. Anyway, you’ll get a full briefing from the Intel staff later. I’m sorry rushing this but I got a full schedule on this morning. I’m going to hand you over to my deputy LCmd Emily Wang. She’ll get you started.” He then hailed “Emily can you please come in now.”
Emily made quite an impression when she entered. It wasn’t because of her pleasant round face and big brown eyes but because she tripped as she pushed the door open, knocking over the base commander’s hat stand. “Bloody hell” she exclaimed. She arrested her fall and regained an upright posture. “I’m sorry Sir” she apologised. She took a deep breath in and with the palms of her hands tried to de-wrinkle her uniform over her somewhat stout shape.
Dieter wasn’t too impressed but he wasn’t a
bout to compound the situation so he pressed on. “LCmd Emily Wang this is Cmdr Dave Warner and 1st Lt Art Simons of the Hermes.” He said the last part with a knowing look.
“Right Sir. Glad to meet you” and she shook their hands in turn. “If you gentlemen will follow me.”
Chapter 8. Chester 1115, 27 September
Bay 6 at the spaceport terminal was standing room only. The commercial shuttle bringing Rihan and Sue had just landed. The media were out in force. The PR team from Raleigh HQ were trying to force their way to the front so they could manage the media frenzy. Art was also trying to muscle his way forward, when a hand on his shoulder restrained him.
“Stop Art” called Dave “Let’s just wait back here.”
“But Sue’s walking into an ambush” explained Art. “They’ve been on a media blackout for four weeks.”
“Sure but they’ve been down now for over half an hour. I reckon she’s getting the lowdown before she disembarks. Come on, let’s just wait.”
“There they are” said Art. Dave stretched himself up a little so he could get a glimpse over the cameraman in front. He could see Rihan scanning the crowd. The PR officer and his assistant somehow managed to break forward and they were introducing themselves to Sue while all the cameras were running and the reporters were thrusting microphones forward.
The PR officer turned to face the reporters. Dave could not make out what he was saying to them but there was a slight parting of the bodies ahead and the PR assistant used his bulk to clear a path for Sue and the PR officer to progress. Rihan was left behind while the throng moved to the main concourse of the terminal. Art charged off after them but Dave stayed put.
As Bay 6 lounge emptied he and Rihan were left facing each other about twenty paces apart. They walked to each other and embraced. “Gee what a reception” said Rihan. “Looks like our Sue is famous.”
“Yeah it sure does” said Dave. “How are you?”
“Pretty good considering that. All I’ve been told is that the war is over and that the sleth asked for the peace treaty to be named after Sue.”
“Yeah but there’s more. I’ll tell you while we collect your gear.”
It took them half an hour to collect Rihan’s luggage – all five pieces of it. “How can you get away with so much gear?” said Dave.
“Rank has its privileges my dear besides a girl always has more clothes than a guy. You should know that.”
“You wouldn’t have got away with that if you had come on the Hermes.”
“No I wouldn’t” she said with a smile as she loaded the last bag on their trolley. “So the sleth are setting up shop in this sector?”
“Yeah” Dave replied as he began pushing the trolley onto the auto-walk.
Rihan looked down to ensure she placed her feet fully on the auto-walk. Once she was set and they glided down the main concourse’s lower floor she asked “Where are we going?”
“Your new digs.”
“My new digs. What happened to our new digs?”
“Well there’s been a bit of a hold up. We’re all still berthed on the Hermes. We’re waiting on the Perth crew to get back from their current mission. Then they will head back to Polaris and we get their old digs.”
“Terrific and I was so looking forward to cuddling up to you tonight.”
“Didn’t you get your five weeks’ worth in advance?”
“Yeah but this is the start of the sixth” and they both laughed.
Chapter 9. Chester 1830, 27 September
Dave and Rihan had given up waiting for Art and Sue. They had placed their order and the first Dim Sims were being consumed just as the unfashionably late couple arrived. Dave waved to attract their attention. The Asian restaurant was almost full. Half the customers were in uniform, which was to be expected given its location just one block from the main entrance to the base.
“Oh Sue you look done in” consoled Rihan.
“I am” she said “What a bugger.”
“You’ve ordered I see” said Art as he took his seat. He turned to face the main counter only to see the waitress coming toward them. He waved his hand palm up over the menus and said “Same as.” The waitress nodded and hurried back to the kitchen.
Dave poured the wine into their glasses and waited until they both took a good sip before asking “So how do you feel about having a treaty named after you?”
“That’s the least of my worries” said Sue. “I’ve been reassigned. I am now the aide to the new Federation ambassador to the sleth.”
“What?” said an astonished Rihan.
“Apparently the sleth made it a condition for signing the treaty. Once they get suitable accommodation constructed I am to be based on Fulmar. In the meantime I will have to shuttle between here and there.”
“Blast” said Rihan “I really wanted to have you here with me.”
“I’m going to try and get reassigned so I can accompany Sue” said Art.
“I doubt that’s a going to fly” said Dave.
“Why not? It makes sense I’m a political officer after all.”
“True but there is the matter of the court order. You and me, remember?”
Art was getting frustrated. He shook his head and proclaimed “I’m going to try anyway.” He took another large drink from his wine glass.
Sue put her arm around him. “It’ll be alright darling.”
“If we play our cards right we may just get the role of escorting or ferrying the ambassador” said Dave in an effort to offer some hope.
Art begrudgingly gave a nod of acknowledgement. “That would be good but I wouldn’t bet on it.”
“You’re going to have come to terms with this Art. It’s the price we have to pay for freeing Sue. It’s karma.”
“Oh you and your preaching Dave” said Art raising his voice a notch. “I’ve had enough.”
At that moment the waitress appeared with a tray of food. While she placed the food on the table no one spoke. Once she departed Dave was about to say something but Rihan, who could see him smarting, placed her hand on his leg under the table. He took the hint and just sat back without speaking.
“These look great” said Sue, desperate to change the mood. Everyone focussed on eating. A good three or four minutes passed without a word from anyone.
Dave was still smarting when finally Art broke the silence “I’m sorry Dave. I know you mean the best.”
Dave could see that Art was sincere. He appreciated his apology. “That’s alright” he said and he gave Art a smile. “How about a toast?” and he raised his glass. Art raised his glass and clinked it against Dave’s. Rihan and Sue joined in.
“To new beginnings” said Rihan.
Art nodded in appreciation and said “to new beginnings.”
Chapter 10. Chester 1600, 29 September
Vice Admiral Ralph Wyatt looked tired when he beckoned Dave and Art into his office. It had been a busy day since he arrived back earlier this morning. He desperately wanted to put his feet up and rest. He wasn’t getting any younger these days. But duty demanded he see these two additions to his officer pool. Normally it would have waited but he had to do this before he sent the Hermes off on its first mission under his command and he wanted them underway post haste.
“Welcome to the sector” said Wyatt.
“Thank you Sir” said Dave and Art added “Thanks” as well.
Wyatt glanced down again at the signals he had received. He was trying to gather his thoughts but he was still struggling to make up his mind about how to deal with them. He pointed to his console and said “I have never had more signals from senior officers about two new subordinates. I have signals from Commodore Pious, Rear Admiral McDermott, the Legal General, the Adjutant General, the Alliance representative to the Federation Council and even from Admiral Yamoto himself. Now some of these say you both should be in prison. Others say you are heroes. What am I to make of all this?”
Dave looked across at Art but Art kept his eyes firmly
fixed on the Admiral knowing that Dave being the senior officer would have to respond. “Sir, there is no denying that we disobeyed a lawful command. I could make excuses but I won’t. We’re here to serve under you command and we will do so to the best of our ability.”
The Admiral looked them over while he thought. “Good answer Commander. Let me make a few things absolutely clear to both of you. Under the terms of the plea bargain, if I am not satisfied with your conduct, I can send both of you back for trial. I won’t brook disobedience. I don’t want to hear any complaints against you from any quarter. Is that understood?”
“Yes Sir” said Dave and Art.
“Alright I have a mission for you and you need to get underway as soon as possible.” He hailed “Matt, come on in”. He looked at the time on his console and then turning to Dave he asked “can you get underway by 0800?”
“Yes Sir” responded Dave.
The door opened and Captain Matt Turiq entered. He was a tall trim fellow with dark hair and eyes on a long wise looking face. After introductions the Admiral said “Matt can you give these gentlemen a quick rundown of what’s just happened?”
“Sure” said Matt. “You should know about the recent pirate attack and the response from the Chicago Group.”
Dave nodded.
“Well we thought it was just a lone pirate vessel. We pulled four of our six frigates off of escort duty to chase it around the Alnitak system only to have a second craft attack the now unescorted craft around Saiph. The emitter signatures are quite different, so we know it’s not the same craft.”
“We suspect their efforts are being coordinated” continued Matt “but we can’t be sure. Regardless we have just declared that all movements in the Saiph and Alnitak quadrants must now be part of an escorted convoy. Chester Control has already begun implementing arrangements. The first convoy will head out tomorrow at 0900.”
“Commander” said Wyatt “you will escort this convoy to Alnitak. Upon arrival new orders will be given but most likely it will be a return run back to Raleigh. If a pirate vessel attempts to attack the convoy you will destroy it. If it flees you let it go. You stay with the convoy. Their protection is priority. Is that understood?”
Redemption: Book 2 of Warner's World Page 16