"Yes, sir. The report is nearly six hundred pages and there are over four hundred certificates. That's why I sent the memo." I explain; as she opens it.
MEMO
From: Captain Kurt Brubacher Commander ESS Loki
To: Vice Admiral Helena Leeds Commander Phoenix Fleet
C.C. Admiral Stephen Nichols Commander Theatre Nine Command, Commander Elasima Executive Officer ESS Loki
Re: Certification of the ESS Loki
Date: December 18, 2255
Admiral,
My team and I have completed the very detailed and demanding job of certifying the ESS Loki. The procedure was not without incident. Initial testing revealed problems that, at the least, could have greatly interfered with the vessel's ability to support the Fleet. At the worst, some issues could have led to catastrophic failure with loss of all the ship's personnel. These issues were repaired and or modified prior to the shakedown phase of the operation.
During shakedown, the vessel was taken on trips of various lengths stressing her systems from below standard to one hundred twenty percent of overall required maximum performance. Failure analysis indicates that the vessel is capable as a combined unit of actually achieving one hundred twenty-five percent of required maximum performance for up to ten days before a non-catastrophic failure would occur in her power generation system. At accepted maximums, failure analysis indicates all systems will function as expected before a major overhaul would be needed of power, propulsion, weapons and shielding systems in five years. This is not to say that, the Loki is immune from failure and the need for repairs; but, the likelihood of her successful operation over the five-year period is indicated at 99.99555% by the best analysis means available.
With that being said, both Commander Elasima and I have signed her certifications. We feel she is a great ship that will service us for a couple of decades, with distinction.
We have presented our nearly six-hundred-page report in both hard and soft copies for your examination; and, have included the more than four hundred sub-system certifications and the final over all certification of the ship to you.
We hope this meets your requirements and needs.
I must add that, though El and I both expected to find the need for personnel changes during such a demanding process, we were pleased to find the Senior Officers, Officers and Crew worked as a team. I am proud of my Loki personnel. This brought them all together as a well synchronized team.
In the interest of fairness to them, I ask that the Loki remain detached for another two weeks; so, I may grant them a generous leave. They are tired; and, they have earned it.
With my deepest respect,
Captain Kurt Brubacher
"Very good, Captain. ...Very good, indeed.' The Admiral was smiling. Then, she continued. 'After the problems you initially encountered, I did not think you would be able to present the Loki, until the New Year. So, you and your team may take her wherever; and, be back here by January 3, 2256. I want you to know how impressed I am, with you... and your team. I especially liked that first meeting you held. You set the ground rules very well. Since then, you seemed to have gained their loyalty and respect. I have received ten e-mails from your senior officers; who seem to have gone on some kind of letter writing campaign. They all love you; and, expressed their appreciation of the detail you enforced during the Loki shakedowns. They all appreciate your teaching skills. It seems that, most of them feel they learned enough to conduct the same trials on a new ship, themselves. That is a real confidence builder.
I also want to convey the gratitude a lot of people feel over your manuals outlining the procedure. There has been a flurry of mailings about the subject. I have been copied on e-mails between Admiral Nichols and Admiral Bryant; and between Bryant and Admiral Stephenson. It seems Admiral Bryant is imbedding a reference to them in the appropriate section of the Regulations amended for use in Mobile Fifth and Stephenson is pushing to place the same reference into the OESA Rules and Regulation. Your manuals are the law in Mobile Fifth and will probably be the law in the Empire, shortly. Everyone is very impressed; especially Admiral Nichols; who has done more certifications than anyone else.
How are your War College courses going?" She startled him with the off-topic question.
"Fairly well Admiral. I managed to keep up during all the stops at the Midgard. I even pulled ahead of my personal schedule during one of our stops, on my own. I just wrote the first semester exams. My marks came in, yesterday. I can send them to you, if you want." I offer.
"It's not necessary. I will get an official copy. It'll probably come today; if, you received it, yesterday. How'd you do?" She asked.
"...Three hundred percent, one ninety-seven and two ninety-ones." I respond.
"Impressive considering the length of time and the stress you've been under. How long for you to finish the second semester." She asks.
"It's hard to say; because, I need access to a Command Carrier regularly to stay on track. I can do a lot of the work in my quarters; but, I need the College for some lectures and the tests and exams." I explain.
"It's not a problem. I think we can find excuses to visit Midgard; and maybe even Valhalla, from time to time. I can even send Loki on errands to Midgard every once in a while. How long would it take you; if, you have regular access?" She is pushing, now.
"I can finish in six weeks; if, I have regular access; and, our patrols are fairly standard. A war would kind of slow me down. But on regular patrols, I can work on it four hours a day and still meet my obligations to the mission and the Loki. Why do you ask, Admiral?" I ask.
"Because, I am really sold on Kurt Brubacher, now. I want that star on your collar, as soon as possible. I need a Group Commander. And, you will make a great Task Force Commander in a very short period of time. I am going to push Admiral Bryant to put you on an accelerated fast track. It's not just your performance in Phoenix. Your tactical history as the Captain of the Shenzhen is excellent. You have all the skill needed to run your own Fleet. You just need a little more experience at higher levels." The admiration in her voice was quite obvious.
"Thank you, Admiral. I appreciate the confidence. I will just try to keep thinking of the current moment, though. I have to concentrate on the Loki and the War College. That way, I won't let you down. In the end, it will get us both what we want. I want to be C&C, one day. You want a Task Force Commander, quickly." I offer to kind of cool things down a little.
"Yes, your right, of course. You have to keep your eye on all the balls your juggling, now." She replies.
"Admiral, may I ask if you will be returning your flag to the Loki. We would be proud to fly your pennant on her. She is a great vessel, now." I ask.
"Yes, Captain. I intend to announce today that; I will be restoring the Loki to my flag ship on January 3. I liked her before she was safe. Now, I will probably fall in love with the ship. You're right. The Loki is a great ship. I will write all your orders, immediately. You will receive them within the hour. Your dismissed, Captain." Leeds snaps officiously.
My enunciator chimes an hour later, aboard Loki.
MEMO
From: Vice Admiral Helena Leeds Commander Phoenix Fleet
To: Captain Kurt Brubacher Commander ESS Loki
C.C. Admiral Stephen Nichols Commander Theatre Nine Command, Commander Elasima Executive Officer ESS Loki, all ship commanders Phoenix Fleet
Re: Certification of the ESS Loki
Date: December 18, 2255
Captain Brubacher,
Congratulations on achieving such amazing results in such a short timeframe. Your performance and the performance of your team has been outstanding. I would also like to thank you and your team for the comprehensive performance reports and the four hundred twelve certifications involved in this process. Commendations have been added to your file and those of all your senior officers.
Please be advised that in response to overall certification 49-71412*Loki, I am placing the ESS Loki on the active
duty roster; effective immediately. We are proud to attach such a fine vessel to Phoenix Fleet. It is comforting to know that, Loki has completed such stringent testing, repairs and shakedowns and is as safe a ship as it can be.
In light of the completion of such a daunting task, I am detaching ESS Loki from the Fleet, until January 3, 2056. Please feel free to take her where your people can enjoy a long rotating leave. However, be sure not to go too far. You are to report for duty at nine hundred hours on January 3, 2056. Give our best wishes to all your officers and crew.
Vice Admiral Helena Leeds
MEMO
From: Vice Admiral Helena Leeds Commander Phoenix Fleet
To: Captain Kurt Brubacher Commander ESS Loki
C.C. Admiral Stephen Nichols Commander Theatre Nine Command, Commander Elasima Executive Officer ESS Loki, all ship commanders Phoenix Fleet
Re: Phoenix Command Flag Vessel
Date: December 18, 2255
Captain Brubacher,
Please be advised that, effective ten hundred hours January 2, 2256 the ESS Loki will become the Command Ship of the Phoenix Fleet. Please make all necessary arrangements for me to move my Phoenix pennant to your vessel. Please also arrange to have quarters available for my command and personal staff and me.
In the interest of efficiency, please arrange for the Phoenix Command office and my staff offices to be ready on the Loki's flag bridge. I look forward to the move.
Vice Admiral Helena Leeds
MEMO
From: Vice Admiral Helena Leeds Commander Phoenix Fleet
To: Captain Kurt Brubacher Commander ESS Loki
C.C. Admiral Stephen Nichols Commander Theatre Nine Command, all Officers and crew ESS Loki
Re: Commendation
Date: December 18, 2255
Captain Brubacher,
Your performance since joining Phoenix Fleet has been outstanding. Your service record and past accomplishments correspond to what I have seen at Phoenix.
A system for conducting testing and shakedown of new or overhauled vessels has never formally existed within the OESA. I must convey to you that, Admiral Bryant has inserted reference to the two manuals you authored on the subject in the OESA Rules and Regulations as amended for Fifth Mobile Rapid Action Command. Fleet Admiral Stephenson is seeking to amend the OESA Rules and Regulations for the entire service to include these references, too. It is my feeling that, your report on the results of the ESS Loki should also be referenced as a guideline to the final results we are seeking in this process. I have forwarded your report to Fifth Mobile Command for Admiral Bryant's examination.
I must also congratulate you on the speed you achieved the melding of the crew of the Loki into a functioning team. These are people who now feel they can do anything; if, they do it together. I believe you have a fine future in the OESA; and can look forward to rapid advancement. This commendation will be placed in your permanent file for future reference.
Vice Admiral Helena Leeds
I call in my XO.
"El, I am sending you three memos. Take a moment to read them. Then, post them ship wide. Everyone should feel excited about our recent accomplishment. I will have a course for you in an hour." I explain.
"Aye, aye, sir." He responds with a big smile and a salute, after quickly reading the memos.
I call up the current locations of Fifth Mobile ships; looking for Command Carriers parked near good systems for vacations. Valhalla is sitting five minutes, ten seconds, east of 14 Hercules; so, I set that beautiful system, as our destination. Travelling to and from the Valhalla from that system is a half-hour proposition at normal speed of twenty percent. The other advantage is that, 14 Hercules is only seventeen light years from our current location; so, it's three and a half days each way from Phoenix. If we head out now, we will have seven full days at 14 Hercules; and, I can head out to Valhalla on two of them. If I take the four lectures I still need on the first visit on December 23, I can be ready to write the mid-semester tests on a second visit on December 28. I will have to travel to and from in off hours to give myself maximum time on 14 Hercules. If I am lucky, I will get four days’ leave, myself. I call El into the office, again.
"Commander Elasima reporting, sir." El says.
"Sit and relax.' I respond. 'We are at Eta Corona, right now. The Valhalla is here.' I point out the location on my pad. 'We can jump to 14 Hercules; which is a great vacation spot. It takes about three and a half days, each way. That leaves seven days for rotating leaves ashore. It also means, I can reach the Valhalla in a half-hour, by shuttle. I would need one of our thirty shuttles on December 23; and, another on December 28. That would allow me to take in four lectures, I need; and, write the mid-term tests. I will travel in off hours; so, it takes only a day each way. Can you plan all the leaves and shuttle usage around that program?" I ask him. I do not want to impose my needs on the rest of the crew.
"I don't think it’s a problem. We would get there on the twenty-second. That's when the first shuttles would go down. One third of the ship could go then. The next third could go late on the twenty-fourth; and, we'd return the first group as we bring the second. The last batch could go down early on the twenty-seventh; as, we bring back the second group. We would bring the last ones back late on the twenty-ninth. We would have thirty shuttles on each day we need them; and, we'd still have twenty-nine others for the rest of the stay for emergencies and in-betweeners. That's six hundred at a time going down. We would make six trips each way on the travel days. Everyone would get leave. The marines have their own shuttles for boarding and landing party assaults. They can use those. I don't think it would pose a hardship." El responds.
"We need to get back an hour before we have to report. We are still light on marines. The Colonel detached a thousand to other carriers in the Fleet. He didn't need them for the trials. We need to get them back; so, we are at full complement; when, the Admiral comes aboard the Loki. Can you set up the timing with the Colonel?' I ask the XO; then continue. 'He may want to grab them all right now, before we leave. That's okay, too; but, we need to jump in a couple of hours."
"I'll look after it. We'll get a schedule ready and get everyone on board." El offers.
"Good, and I'll post a memo about the leave, right now." I respond as El turns to leave.
The memo granting leave is well received. Everyone is happy with the choice of locations. It tells everyone to watch for the rotation schedule the Exec will post.
El advises the Colonel wants to get his people, now. He wants them to get leave, if they can. El arranges it. By the time we jump out; we are at full complement of nearly six thousand.
............................................................................
One thing I really hate is all the formality in the regulations. Bringing the Phoenix Flag and the Admiral aboard is part of quite an elaborate ceremony. It's a wasted hour, for everyone. I will not have those protocol observed; if, I ever get control of a theatre or quadrant. The Admiral should be piped aboard, as usual; but, the change of flag should not be so ceremonial.
Anyway, it's January 3, and we reported on time. On the way back, we made sure the Loki was "ship shape and bristle fashion" for the Admiral's arrival. I have no way of telling her without sounding sappy; so, I haven't; but, I really like her. I am glad she made the Loki her flag ship.
"I will expect you to have dinner in the Admiral's mess with me - say nineteen hundred." Her statement is almost an order as we wind up from the flag transfer ceremony.
"Yes, Admiral. I will see you there." I respond; as, she turns towards her office and walks away.
I expected her COS and maybe, a Task Force Commander in the mess hall; but, we are alone. At dinner, she asks about the college.
"I wrote the midterms when Loki went to 14 Hercules, on leave. My marks should come in a few days. Meantime, I am pushing ahead with second term studies." I explain.
"Good because, the whole Mobile Fifth is moving. Anyway, Nichols h
as given us assignments that seem particular close to Midgard. I think he did that for you; but, it's not been mentioned. How long will it take you to finish?" She asked.
"That depends on the move. The longer the jump is to the new location, the more I will get done. If, I only have my bridge shift and an hour or two of administration a day, I can get a lot done. If we do a five-day jump, I could finish; with the exception that, I would need two lectures on the Midgard. Then, I'd have to write the finals. I could have final marks in two weeks; if, we are in a long enough jump, now." I explain.
"The jump is fifty-six light years. The Fifth will reassemble at Gliese 777 in Cygnus. That's an eleven-and-a-half-day jump at normal cruising speed; so, I suspect we’ll stop over at HD193664 in Draco. That's almost an exact half way point. It would not be unusual to give us a two-day break there; which means, you would have day two to go aboard any one of the Command Carriers. Then, we will probably get another day or two at Gliese 777; so, you might avail yourself again, there. I haven't received the orders, yet; but, I think that's the way it'll go. I think Bryant picked his target for you, too." Admiral Leeds finished as if she was deep in thought.
"So, you believe Admirals Bryant and Nichols are conspiring to push me through the War College Program. Creating all opportunities, they can, for me?" I chuckle.
"Not just them!" She blurts out as her face gradually reddens.
"You're in on it, too?" I ask.
"I knew you'd certified the Shenzhen and worked on two others; when, I read your file. Why do you think I made the Loki my flag; and brought it to Midgard. I knew you'd ground it, immediately. I also believed that if you were using Midgard as a base, you would take the opportunity to go as far as possible on the War College Program. You didn't really believe I had forgotten to have a Carrier certified, did you?' She laughed. 'I suggested it to my cohorts and they went for it. And, I was so happy to see you are as driven and motivated as I thought. Look at me. I am almost exactly your age. How do you think I got where I am, so fast? Bryant believed in me, too. He even gave me a second chance, once. We have more in common than you know. I have selfish reasons for this. The flag levels have been diluted. There are some on the way up who look good. But, I need a leader with good tactical skill, right now. There's no one actually in line who has your skills. That's the selfish professional side of me - cold, calculating and driven. Then, there's the personal side of this, too. It's the real reason I made Loki my flag, again." She stopped short.
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