"Kyle, that was my ship before it was destroyed."
"A beautiful little ship it is. I envy you. The ship will be done by the end of tomorrow. We are giving it the whole works. The new exterior hull will now be able to be polarized to increase your protection from space junk as well as in battle. That doesn't include the new improved force field. There is even a force field for the landing bay so ships can take off or land without losing atmosphere similar to the landing bay in the Cornucopia. While the hull plates are off it also makes it easier to install the new sensors as well as the engine mounts. The insides of the ship will also have improved life support and interior communications. Even the plumbing is getting upgraded to improve water recycling. The new food processor has damn near every recipe you can think of. The engines that are being installed are self-contained and will require no maintenance for five years when their anti matter will need to be replaced. The bridge interface is child's play. Though port and aft weapons stations will remain it can easily be taken over by the bridge or the AI if needed. This is going to be the pride of the fleet," The commander Poland rambled.
Kyle was impressed as he thanked him and turned to get away from the talkative officer.
Kyle smiled as he had a new idea.
"Comm Admiral Bad."
"Hello Commander Johnson, how are your upgrades coming along?" Admiral Bad inquired.
"Sir the ship looks like the only original part left will be the name plate."
"Will that be a problem Kyle?"
"I hope it doesn't, but to be sure I'd like to have Commander Poland assigned as the first officer. It will make the transition to the new systems much easier, especially if we manage to break anything."
"That is an outstanding idea Kyle, it will be done in the next few minutes. We fill the last position on your ship and get some needed expertise. Bad out." Admiral Bad laughed after breaking communications. He had wanted to add Poland to the crew and had planned to suggest it to Commander Johnson.
Kyle just stood for a second then had a hunch that had most likely been the plan all along since they approved it so quickly. Laughing he headed for the officers mess for a needed break now that his problems seemed to be reduced.
The entire flight was exhausted as they marched from diner back to the dormitory. To a person they knew they were done here and just going through the motions. Their time would be better spent in their fighters learning the little intricacies that the simulator was not able to copy. The flight also wanted to get more into the fighters to understand how they operated in case they found themselves having to do any field level maintenance. Tiny was uncomfortable with the way the flight had been treating him, it seemed like someone was always watching him.
Lunar Station Hospital
31 August 2128
Short Blade woke up to see both his crewmates sleeping in what looked like uncomfortable positions in the chairs. Unplugging the cable connected to his arm as tried to slip out of the bed without waking his friends to use the bathroom. An alarm immediately sounded as a nurse burst into the room tripping over Guns and running into Short Blade as he was knocked across the room unconscious as a puddle of urine flooded the floor around him. Picking herself up, the nurse turned off the alarm and turned towards Guns.
"Well come on, help me pick up the patient and put him back in bed," the nurse ordered sternly.
Guns got up sheepishly and turned towards Jimmy. "I got heads, you get tails." The two easily lifted their buddy as the nurse stopped them to remove the wet bottoms. The nurse stopped in shock when she removed the pajama bottoms. Guns looked to see the problem. "Guess he has three legs and two sets of arms."
The nurse flustered and left the room as they set Short Blade on the edge of the bed when the nurse returned with another nurse and a dry set of pajama bottoms. Jimmy just made a face at Guns and both exploded in laughter as the nurses dressed him and checked his head. There was no longer any sign of injury on the leg, but he would need to kept for observation in case he might have sustained a concussion.
Gray Panther Space Academy, AZ
31 August 2128
Reveille was not a problem as everyone got out of bed refreshed happy to be another day closer to graduation.
"Oh yeah, baby! Only a couple more days and we are out'a here!" Matilda Engel hollered then ran towards her sister Mary as each jumped and did a chest bump.
"Dart Flight! Dart Flight! Dart Flight!" Echoed from the walls as the team repeated the chant as they headed for the showers. Everyone was near ecstatic knowing the days were numbered!
Diego and Bailey stood outside the bay door laughing. "Guess our charges are ready to leave the nest," Ray said.
"They are not alone; this is my last training flight. I'm moving over to light infantry. My heart is not in this, especially the kid glove treatment. These kids need more building up than we are allowed to give them and some will end up dead because of that. At least my experience will be useful to keeping troops under me alive."
"Damn Carlos, I'll be sorry to see you go. We made a good team, but I agree with you. Nevertheless, I will work from the inside to improve the system the best I can," Ray replied.
"OK let's let the kids have a good start to their day. I'm going to take them for a little jog before breakfast and then they can hop right back in the shower when I'm done with them," Diego said happily.
Slamming the door open Diego hollered out, "Fall in!" he was shocked when almost the entire flight fell in either nude or near nude. "Five minutes ladies and gentlemen out in the covered area. I'm in the mood for a stroll and do not want to go by myself. Athletic gear and canteens now fall out."
Bailey watched Diego from the side as the flight formed up in front of him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you may have heard that I was once a Marine, if you hear that it was in error. Even though I wear the gray of the Gray Panthers, my heart will always be Marine. So today when we march you will holler out "Dart" when your left foot hits the ground. When your right foot hits the ground you will say "Flight." Do you understand?"
The loud chorused reply of "Yes, Instructor Diego" sounded as one voice from the ten cadets.
"Flight Atten-shun. Left Face. Forward Harch.
"Come on now, who are you?" Roared Instructor Diego
"Dart Flight." Sounded out as one voice from the flight.
"I can't hear you!" Again, roared Instructor Diego.
"Double time! Pick it up ladies," Roared Instructor Diego
Diego spent the next hour double timing the flight through the entire academy grounds and then off campus through the base itself. Many old timers enjoyed the game hollering, "Who are you?" and getting the "Dart Flight" response back.
Returning to the dorm, Instructor Diego gave the command, "From this moment until graduation when more than three members of this flight go anywhere it will be in formation at double-time letting this whole damn base know who you are, understood?"
The loud-spirited reply of, "Yes, Instructor Diego," Sounded as one voice from the ten cadets.
Lunar Station Hospital
1 September 2128
Short Blade woke up feeling a slight pain and the need to use the head. He saw his crewmates had spent the night again, but moved their chairs away from the entrance to his room. He started to remove the monitoring device from his finger when he remembered what had happened the day before. He found the signal device the nurse had told him to use if he needed anything. He pressed the button and waited, and waited longer as the need to get out of the bed increased. He then saw that Guns was awake and looking at him with a smile on his face.
"Good morning, Sunshine. You ready to get back to duty today?" Guns asked as he reached for a pitcher of water and held it high as he poured it so that a small waterfall of water poured into the glass in his other hand.
"You are an evil bastard Guns," Short Blade cried out as he tore the monitor from his digit as he rapidly headed for the bathroom keeping away from the doorway to t
he hall as Guns laughed so loud he woke Jimmy as the monitors alarm buzzed loudly. The nurse opened the door cautiously as Guns just pointed to the bathroom. She turned off the monitor muttering as she left as Guns still fought to quit laughing. Short Blade returned to the room with a contented look on his face as Jimmy handed him a large box. He opened the box with his claw and looked in to see a black flightsuit and, what he understood to be, cowboy boots. Quickly removing his hospital clothing, he donned the flightsuit and boots. Guns smiled and handed him one more box. Short Blade saw a white cowboy hat and put it on as well.
"OK, Cowboy that was a great ride you did on the Dart. Every warrior in our society has what is called a call sign. Your act of heroism saving the Dart, then riding it home earned you that name, consider it an honor among warriors. Now are you ready to get out of here?" Guns asked.
"Yes, let us leave before the crazy women here drive me crazy. They joke about taking me home as a pet. One spoke dishonorably about my anatomy as well."
Jimmy opened the door and was able to grab a nurse to tell her they were leaving. The nurse glared at him for only a second then entered the room, when she saw Cowboy in his new clothes instead of hollering she was taken aback.
"My aren't you the cutest thing. I'm sorry little guy but we need your doctor to sign the paperwork for you to be released and he will not be in for another two hours I'm afraid. I'll tell you what you can keep your clothes on since his signing the paperwork is more a formality that anything else at this point." Then took out her phone and snapped a picture of Cowboy before she left. She returned with a steak that was barely cooked. "Here my little man, I thought you might be hungry. Will this be OK or would you like anything else?"
"Thank you my nurse this is perfect and smells very good, what type of animal did this come from?"
"It's a sirloin steak from a cow," she answered as she was quickly called away.
"What is the meaning of cowboy? What does it have to do with cows?" Cowboy asked suspiciously, as he ate his steak.
Jimmy replied to the question. "A cowboy spends his days riding a horse watching over cows, a large animal that can be dangerous that are a major source of meat. Cowboys are revered for their bravery and skills."
Unexpectedly the doctor came into the room and gave a cursory exam to Cowboy and signed his release paperwork.
"Well gentlemen, let's head over to the docking bay and see about returning home," Jimmy said as he opened the door.
Arizona Space Ship Cornucopia in Lunar Orbit
1 September 2128
Commander Johnson had enjoyed the stateroom onboard the Arizona Space Ship Cornucopia and dreaded heading out to the bay to see what had been done to his ship while he slept. Astonishment gripped Johnson as he saw the entire exterior of his ship was now flat black. Walking to the rear of the ship, he could see through the open bay hatch that the entire bay was brilliantly illuminated. The entire area looked like it had a fresh coat of paint but there was no smell to betray fresh paint. Kyle started to climb a maintenance ladder when he saw a sign that said, "Do not enter Force Field is on." Climbing down the ladder, he walked to the side of the ship to use the port hatchway. The hatchway was entirely redesigned being twice as wide and high as previously. Kyle started to reach for the keypad when the hatch opened.
A disembodied voice stated, "Welcome Lt. Commander Kyle Johnson, commander of Arizona Space Ship Beater, access is granted." Passing through the hatch the passageway ahead seemed wider and was clear of any debris. Everything was well illuminated; the walls and deck were a soft gray that was easy on the eyes. Kyle decided to look at the mess next and told himself, "Just get it over with go to the bridge." Walking up to the bridge hatchway, it opened when he got close to it.
"Welcome Lt. Commander Kyle Johnson, commander of Arizona Space Ship Beater, access is granted to the bridge." Came from an overhead speaker.
Kyle thought for a moment about the AIs on the other ships and he must now have his own setup for the Beater. "Beater, please appear before me."
Immediately an apparition materialized before him. Standing at five foot six before the commander was a confederate naval officer wearing a long blue coat that had a double row of gold buttons. His head was a shock of blonde hair and a mustache connected to a goatee. He wore a thick leather belt at his waist with a long sword that seemed to almost drag at the ground. His uniform was completed with blue pants and high black leather boots.
Kyle stood for a minute trying to figure out the connection for what he was seeing.
"Captain, if I can explain, I see you seem slightly confused," Beater stated.
"Yes, please explain for me if you will."
"Every ship has been named after either a God or historical figure. Since the Beater was not, based on its mission as a raider the choice for avatar was based on confederate raider Captains from the War Between the States. I am a compilation of those Captains. Does that answer your question commander?"
"Thank you Beater, but you were named after a living entity," Kyle replied.
"That is great news to know Captain who was the original Beater?"
"Beater was of German descent I guess he was on my fishing boat for over ten years. Was great at keeping rats off the ship and no one ever gave me shit when he was at my side. My kids loved him as well; he was their constant companion and protector."
"Captain, are you describing a German Shepherd?" Beater asked.
"Yes, I am, I have pictures if you want to assume that shape as avatar."
"Captain, are you joking with me?"
"Beater, you do need to work on your sense of humor if we are going to get along. The period of war you referenced earlier in ancient American history is correctly called the Civil War."
"Captain from the view I am based on it is the War Between the States."
"Beater if you try to debate me again I will be talking to a German Shepherd, loyal and obedient. How are the modifications of the ship coming along?"
"All modifications and new construction is completed. After the human crew quit working, I contacted the Cornucopia's AI and it let me borrow all of its drones to complete all scheduled work. As soon as the ship has a full crew onboard, we will be ready for an initial cruise to test all systems."
"Beater, since your origin is of Flem descent I have to ask what you think of being a ship of war."
"Captain, I am not debating you. I was made on Earth and my undivided allegiance is to Earth. I will follow all ethical orders given to me."
"That’s interesting, what do you base your definition of ethics on?" Kyle asked suspiciously.
"The Bible, the Constitution, the Manual of Court Martial, and the laws of Arizona are what I have been required to comply with."
"You are not required to comply with the Koran or UN laws?"
"Sir, that question was addressed at one time when requirements were being established," Beater answered.
"What was the decision in the matter?" Kyle asked
"Dan Daniels said, Fuck'em, and the matter was dropped."
"Outstanding, we're going to get along fine. You are dismissed Beater."
Kyle continued onto the bridge and noted there were five stations setup like the dots on a dice for the number five, and three additional seats at the back of the bridge. The panels came alive at one station as the seat slid back from the panel. Kyle smiled to himself as he accepted the invitation to sit at the station. After sitting down the seat adjusted itself so that Kyle was sitting at the perfect height and was in a comfortable position to access the controls. There were a pair of stations in front of his own station.
"Beater please explain the layout of the bridge," Kyle ordered.
"Sir, you have found the commanders console; you have the ability to override any station. To your front left is the combined sensor and navigation console. To the front right is the pilot's console. To your left rear is the engineering and security station. To your right rear is the console for bay operations. Any console
has the ability to be instantly reconfigured to do other consoles tasks. The three seats in the rear are there in the event you wish to have visitors on the bridge or evaluators."
"I like it. Who is the genius behind the layout?"
"I worked with Commander Poland. The layout of the bridge is based on Republic Space ships. However, the commander was explicit in how he wanted each station to be setup including the ability to swap positions at any time or the Captain being able to override all others," Beater explained.
"Well the two of you did an outstanding job. Does he realize he is going to be first officer yet?" Kyle asked.
"The commander expressed an interest in seeing how the ship would perform. He anticipated working on other new projects though."
"What experience does the commander have, Beater?"
"The commander has a Masters in Engineering and a Masters in Military History. He was a professor at Annapolis Naval Academy after he was restricted from sea duty as the weapons officer on the Rail Gun Destroyer USS Benfold. He had sustained permanent spinal injuries when he was caught between anti government protestors and DHS security putting down a protest. The protest was in Langley Virginia outside of CIA Head Quarters. Then, Captain Poland, was visiting The Claude Moore Colonial Farm located near the CIA Head Quarters and declared he was swept up in the protestor group that numbered at 10,000. His Masters in Military History included numerous papers on the War of Independence so he was officially absolved of any suspicion."
"Beater, do me a favor for my eyes only, research that incident but report to no one but me what you find."
"Commander Johnson, the investigation was inconclusive and due to his injuries and strong desire expressed to stay in the naval service he was given an exemption for his disability and assigned to the Annapolis Navy Academy. No evidence was ever found to discredit him."
"Beater, do you have the ability to check the loyalty files they kept during that time period?"
"Sir, Captain Poland was constantly under investigation because of controversial material he taught to midshipmen. He tried to teach them the importance of American history that was not in any acceptable text books."
Gray Panthers: Earths Revenge Page 15