At the moment, we are at the beginning of the first jump. We entered the aperture an hour ago. We will make our one-day stop in paradise in three days fourteen hours, from now. In the meantime, we have lots to do. We have the remains of the cargo vessel in tow. Our forensic team is scouring the large sections of some of its cargo modules we have aboard. We have prisoners in our brig. We have some of the victims aboard as guests and one still in our sick bay. We have the investigation teams small craft filling a shuttle bay; and, its team aboard as additional guests who are assisting in our investigation. We are intensely monitoring all systems because of the extra load; and, scanning surrounding space in continuous sweeps to ensure we do not add any new issues to the existing ones. Besides all of that, there is the urge to make our guests feel at home; so, those involved with them, spend time to ensure their happiness.
Then, there are the regular duties we have to perform. In my case, its running my own bridge shift; reading each and every shift report; updating ships logs; and, sitting with my senior staff once a day for evaluations and personnel updates. And, that does not include the junior officer training I have to do once a week. In fact, it's time to do it right now.
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"Group." Someone yelps as I enter the room.
"Rest easy!!" I call out before anyone can move.
"Does anyone have any observations to make about last week's session and handouts?' I ask.
'Yes Ensign." I respond to the young lady with her hand elevated.
"Sir, it sounds like the wedding was truly unbelievable!" She observed with tears in her eyes. It's still a girl thing.
"Ensign, unbelievable is an understatement. I was there; so, I can assure you that; I will probably never experience anything like it again. First of all, the Admiral's wife is a remarkable beauty with an incredible personality. I know what you're all thinking - she really raked me over the coals, in my early days at Boots. But, in all honesty, I would marry her, if I could. She gushes warmth, life, enthusiasm and empathy in the most genuine way. She was absolutely the most beautiful bride I have ever seen. She was the one officer not in dress uniform. Banerjee made her an incredible gown. It was white with off white panels that had a barely noticeable bluish tinge to them. There was a short train that followed along on the floor and the dress was hooded instead of veiled. Otherwise, everyone wore full mess uniforms with lanyards, braids and swords. The whole ceremony was like something out of a fairy story. From there, the bride and groom went to a small gathering with the wedding party and the senior Admiralty. I was not in that room; but, I hear the Emperor made his friendship and trust of the wedding couple well known. And of course, there was the reception to beat all of them. Held aboard four carriers, over twenty thousand were served by the time it was over. You could imbibe every kind of exotic food and beverage found in the Empire and a few from other worlds. What impressed me the most was the effort those two made to ensure they made all of us feel they were thankful for our attendance. It was like work for them. They made two one-and-a-half visits at each reception. I think that, they worked very hard to appear to have a good time to make us all feel like we meant something. They only had the day after as a honeymoon. The following day was spent with family and close friends. They must have been exhausted; when, they returned to work the day after that. The other thing that amazed me was the extremes they went to for all the guests. People were shuttled forty-light years and back. Four galleys worked double crews for double shifts to serve everyone the ultimate buffet. But, you know what was really important.' I pause to look around and take in the quizzical expressions. 'It was the ultimate love they continually showed each other throughout all this mayhem. And, you can still see it today; if, you are lucky enough to be in the presence of both at the same time. Don't forget; he is a full Admiral responsible for six hundred thousand people and incredible defensive power; and, she is a Vice Admiral with ten thousand throughout the service at her beck and call. And yet, they are the most genuine human beings I know, today. There is nothing arrogant about either of them. They are warm, fun and very thoughtful. In their minds, the OESA works because of all the people subordinate to them; not because of them. They both feel they are only there to steer people in the right direction. Admiral Bryant continually says that, people tend to do the right things; if, you give them the chance and you've trained them properly." I stopped for a question.
"Which Admiral Bryant says that, sir?" The young ensign asked.
"Both, now. But, I think Admiral George Bryant originated the idea. Anyway, I am off on a tangent. Are there any other questions about the last history lesson?"
"Yes sir.' A young man paused to gain the attention of the class. 'You are saying that, Admiral Bryant is responsible for the four Group system we use today throughout the service; and that, Vice Admiral Bryant is responsible for developing this amazing counseling service we enjoy today?" The ensign observed in a questioning tone.
"Yes, I am. And there's much more to come. He is responsible from some even more inventive organization we take for granted, today; and Marie Bryant changed attitudes that were pervasive in the OESA and even in society, at the time. We take for granted the change she precipitated and live with it like it always was.
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Though they were already running patrols and fleet exercises, by then, George sent a message to Theatre and Quadrant Commands that; they would engage in normal operations on September 15, 2248. He advised both commands that, he had his staff recovered information on the history of previous patrols and would follow the pattern employed throughout the first three months of 2248. This would allow him to prepare a comparative report for them highlighting efficiency after the expansion against efficiency before. He would concentrate on providing two information channels for them. The first would compare individual mission efficiencies. The second would compare Fleet efficiencies over the entire period.
Admiral Bryant knew that the Quadrant Commanders and C&C especially would need these numbers to justify continuation of the expansion over the entire OESA. He was aware that they would be in the clear for a while longer. But, he also knew that the legislators and bean counters would begin to question the whole idea as time wore on and costs continued to mount.
He added a second report based on a compilation of Commodore Nichol's findings during quality control, operational and failure analysis testing and during shake down cruises. This would allow the C&C to order the additional assets with the required changes already in the finished machinery. Though the ships would cost slightly more, up front, the final costs would be greatly reduced.
They were on their way to 14 Hercules on September 15, 2248. They would jump into it; check it out; and, use it as a base of operations for the first patrol. Two Groups would be detached to go to Rho Corona and Eta Corona Borealis dual system and the other two would engage all the space in the center of this triangle which was roughly ten light years on each side and ten light years in height. There are twelve systems of all types within the boundaries of this wedge; including but not limited to Hip 83389, Wolf 9564, Ross 640 and several more. This will be an intense mission. Columbia will work its way out from 14 Hercules, while Grenada spirals out from Eta Corona. El Salvador would start at Hip 83389 and Dominica would center at Chi Hercules. It would be interesting to see how quickly this patrol can be completed working from four distinct points.
Boots Fleet parked outside the 14 Hercules system at thirteen hundred hours on September 18. Columbia went in to ensure the system was quiet with the three other Groups at the ready. Once it was declared secure, the three other Groups jumped out. Columbia studied individual landmarks and potential hiding places in the system for another ninety minutes before jumping to L 1489-5. It's a small orange main sequence dwarf star; the mother of four planets in orbit around it. One has a pre-spac
e industrial humanoid species that is centered on a warrior type culture that has been handed down for a couple of millennia. Nichols keeps all Columbia personnel off the planet; since, it is considered a great and honorable accomplishment to kill potential threats on sight. His object in a system like this is to ensure no space faring parties are using it for the wrong purposes. In both systems, he has proven how efficiently he can use the tools at hand. Ships are detached to examine specific interests; but, are never out of sensor or weapons range. He never allows any one vessel to get more than a hundred and fifty million miles from the Columbia. It’s a distance that would allow big Carriers to get to any of the vessels in less than ten minutes, without jumping. The Columbia becomes the center of a spiraling ball that completes inspection of an entire system in around ninety minutes. These maneuvers require constant navigation plotting and course corrections and beg the utmost attention from the helm; but, allow completion of the inspection very quickly. The whole waltz is complicated by the obstructions that must be avoided. To accomplish the feat, they also require the same kind of detail from the Columbia’s sensor department; which takes control of; and, must keep all vessels’ short range sensors in their relative positions, throughout the exercise. He has effectively figured out how to use his Group like a single four hundred-million-mile diameter vessel circulating through a system. Long range sensors are less of an issue; because of their distance from the flotilla; but, still require coordination as the Group moves through its patrol. Bryant was amazed. He considered himself relatively intelligent; but, knew it was not likely he would have ever considered doing a patrol in this manner. He would speak to Grace when her two Groups were rejoined.
Columbia finished her five assignments in less than ten hours and jumped back to 14 Hercules. There it waited alone for the other to return. El Salvador returned five hours after Columbia. Stevens reported in to Bryant. It was pretty standard stuff.
"Tom, I saw something really cool when we were on patrol. Come over to the Columbia when Grace gets back. We all need to talk about it." He signed off.
"Commodore Nichols can you give me a file of your entire Group's course movements, over your five assignments, please? Bryant requested of the man at the Group Command station on the same bridge.
"Aye Admiral. You'll get it in five minutes. Is there a problem?" Nichols asked.
"Not for you Commodore; but, the rest of us have some reevaluation to do." Bryant responded with a chuckle.
Grace returned on the Grenada a couple of hours later. Bryant asked her to shuttle over and meet with him and Stevens. The Dominica arrived an hour after that.
"Well gang, you are not going to believe what I saw today. Just when I thought there was nothing new I could learn about Fleet and Group patrol missions; someone teaches me a lesson." Bryant was laughing as the other two looked at him quizzically; which, made him laugh all the harder. This started them laughing too.
He clicked on the icon of the navigation file he had and selected it be played in objective mode. That means they would view the motion from outside of the Group. When it was ready, he turned to them.
"Watch my screen' he motioned his head to the graphics in the air above his desk. 'You won't believe what you're seeing." He finished as he activated the file and they watched five ship shaped icons and hundreds of sensor ones spiral through the space of a star system then reset to what was another location and repeat the pattern.
"What the hell is that? What are we looking at?" Stevens asked as he and Grace looked in to each other’s eyes in wonder.
"This is a Group doing a patrol in five different systems. Watch it again. They can generally complete the entire operation in ninety minutes without missing a cubic millimeter of space." Bryant answered with a chuckle as he restarted the video.
"Who the hell is that? What Group is this, George?" She asked.
"It's one of yours Grace. It's Nichols in charge of the Columbia Group. It's like watching a ballet. It is so smooth and synchronized you can barely tell when a vessel breaks off; checks out some anomaly and rejoins the motion. I cannot believe it. I actually lived through it. It is marvelous to be a part of that circus ride; especially if, your using the view ports.' Bryant said with admiration in his voice. 'This man has found a way to increase the speed of a patrol by forty percent without missing anything and without endangering any one vessel. My feeling is that, we should adopt this Fleet wide; but, I did not want to impose it. I offer it to you. Use it if you want. But, I will be setting higher standards on patrol efficiency." He finished with a laugh.
"I don't know about you, Tom; but, I absolutely love it; and, I love that man for figuring it out." The admiration in Grace's voice was palpable.
"I will adopt it, too. I've never seen anything like it, either. And, I've been at this game for thirty years." Stevens countered.
"I didn't want to step on any toes; so, I haven't said anything. I think we should get the man in here and tell him what we think.' Bryant said. 'After a little poke in the eye, of course.' He added with a smile.
Grace paged him to Admiral Bryant's office.
"Commodore Nichols reporting as ordered, sir." He said at attention.
Bryant pointed to the space above his desk as he started the graphics. "What the hell is this?" He asked sternly.
There was a considerable silence as Stephen seemed to be trying to figure out what he was watching. "I don't know, sir. What do you think it is?" He asked.
"Think. We know what it is. It's you doing your patrols; and we have to say, we love it. It is the most efficient and thorough way of doing them we've ever seen. Even Tom hasn't seen it before and he's been on these ships since the OESA was founded." The four broke into laughter.
"What made you think of orchestrating your patrol in such an elegant fashion?" Grace queried.
"I assure you that, I was not attempting elegance. The idea was to find a way to use the new Group configuration to its maximum capability. This was my first trial of the concept." He responded.
"Trial... This was a trial? It was executed with precision - like you've done it a hundred times before!" Bryant observed.
"No sir. This was the first attempt; since discussing it with my Captains and sending them the navigational math formulae and order of operations.' Nichols responded. 'We did conduct this maneuver once with each helmsman at a simulator. But, this was the first actual attempt." He added.
"Well, consider it a success. If it’s okay by you, we want to adopt it Fleet wide. We will call it the Nichols Patrol Maneuver; so, all future helmsmen and Captains will know where it came from." Bryant said.
"No problem, sir. The Fleet is welcome to it. I would be happy to have contributed to overall Fleet efficiency." Nichols replied.
"If it works out on a wider basis, we will send it on to the Quadrant Commander. Right now, it looks like everyone should adopt it." Bryant added.
They were finished the patrol a couple of days earlier than it had been done in the previous record; so, Bryant recorded that and stopped where they were for two days of exercises teaching Nichols' system to the other Groups. When they left for the next patrol at Tau Bootis they were up to par on the new system. George would be interested to see how efficiency checked out on this mission.
The trip from 14 Hercules to Tau Bootis would be completed in two jumps. They would first travel twenty-six and a third light years to HD130948 in Bootis; then, they would jump the additional seventeen light years to Tau. This was about five light years longer than the direct route; but, allowed them to do it without discomfort to the crew. They would stop at HD 130948 for a full day to ensure everyone recovered their space legs.
This time they would arrive at Tau; check it out and disburse to cover all the stars in a triangle with it, HR5273 and 70 Virgo at the points. Wolf 515, LTT 13826, Diadem ABC and Ross 837 along with the three points were among the thirteen that would make up this patrol. It would be a good test. After all Groups secured Tau, there were twelve more
systems to distribute among the four groups. Each Group would make four jumps and visit three systems by the time they all returned to Tau.
They exited the jump on Friday September 29, 2248 at eleven hundred hours Quadrant regional time. All four Groups jumped out to their first targets separately at thirteen hundred. At twenty-two hundred hours on Friday October 6, 2248 Columbia was the first to exit the return jump at Tau. El Salvador Group followed an hour and a half later. At two hundred hours on October 7th Grenada and Dominica landed at virtually the same time. It had taken just over seven and a half days to complete a patrol that took nearly two weeks, six months earlier. Bryant called all the senior tactical staff to a meeting.
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