by Chris Hechtl
The captain tried to do her best to convey an air of composure, professionalism, and calm. She pointed out that Rear Admiral Zekowitz and Commodore Logan were indeed on duty in BuShips. She was forced to admit that they weren't where they had expected to be. “That is because of shake-ups in our chain of command. Eventually things will settle down.”
That statement was met with skepticism and cynicism from the media, their pet talking heads, and the public that they spoke to during their “man on the street interviews.”
When pressed for clarification, the public affairs department admitted Admiral Zekowitz was doing make-work, but important work while waiting for a new position to open up.
In an attempt to deflect the growing media storm, Admiral Draken allowed Captain Prescott to do a small dog and pony show. The captain showed the media Commodore Logan working on his Ilmarinen design project. “This is Bek's first true starship design,” the captain said proudly. “Obviously, we didn't want to release the news about it until we were ready. We didn't want to cause a problem with high expectations since it is still in the early stages of the design process,” she said smugly.
That generated interest and excitement. It temporarily took the heat off the Childress faction, but it generated pressure to get the project moving faster and into actual production.
~<><{<^>}><>~
Admiral Childress fumed over the leak and being forced into the situation. Admiral Draken thought of it as a situation of the admiral's own making. He'd expected some push back; it was how the game was played. That was why they said no plan survived contact with the enemy after all. That the admiral hadn't was a clear indication that he wasn't the strategist he'd thought he was.
Admiral Childress called a senior staff meeting. Once the senior staff was settled around the conference room, he nodded. “I think we all know why we're here,” he said. He turned to the Naga admiral and his Neochimp subordinate. “I think you two have some explaining to do. Obviously someone dropped the ball. Logan or Zek orchestrated this. My question is, why the hell didn't we know about this in advance?” he demanded, temper gathering steam. “Most likely it was Zekowitz. He's got the contacts,” he snarled. “Or both. I want their balls,” he said, eyes snapping.
Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh and Admiral Hill immediately countered the accusation. “We have no proof, none whatsoever that either officer was involved in the leak. Both have been under tight surveillance,” the Naga stated. “My sources have confirmed it didn't come from either of them, sir,” Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh finished. He turned a few of his eyes on Admiral Hill who nodded reluctantly in support of his statement.
Admiral Childress blinked in surprise and then his eyes narrowed in speculation. “Then who …?”
“Not them or at least not directly. According to what we know, the story was drawn from a series of sources as well as general observations actually. We're watching the naval ones now. The main leak came from the administration however. The reporters who got the ball rolling are known to be in their pocket,” the Naga stated.
“Shit. Them,” Admiral Draken said in disgust.
“Breaking with them right away is going to prove to be a long-term problem,” Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh pointed out. “I, like a lot of officers, are uncomfortable about that.” He silently indicated Admiral Bolt, Admiral Creator of Things, and General Yetmister. Admiral Bolt flicked his ears but remained silent. The Neogorilla marine brigadier didn't look at all happy about being singled out.
Admiral Childress glanced at them and then returned his attention to the Naga. He tried to stare the Naga down, but it wasn't easy. He might outrank the Naga but the ONI head was a predator species with six eyes and a lot of sharp teeth. Finally, he looked away.
“We're going to have to move forward with Logan's project now. We can't just spin it off; we need to build off of it,” Admiral Draken mused. “Too many people know about it; they are excited.” He glanced at Admiral Creator of Things. Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh didn't come out and say it, but he'd caught one of the Naga's eyes looking at the BuShips head during his statement about watching the naval officers now.
“Shit,” Admiral Hill said as one hand went to her ear. “Sirs,” she said, reaching for the remote near Admiral Childress. His hand covered it, but hers darted under and slipped it out from his hand. She spun it in her hand and then pointed it at the wall screen. “You need to see this.”
She turned the screen on and then entered the number to one of the major news channels. There they saw an interview with Commodore Logan. Obviously, he'd been ambushed in the spaceport.
“Tell them nothing,” Admiral Childress hissed, eyes flashing.
Instead Horatio spread his hands apart. “Look, you should direct all questions to the public affairs department.”
“But your orders, sir?”
“I can confirm that I was given different orders that were then countermanded when I got here.”
“Why?”
“That you will have to ask the public affairs department and Admiral Childress. He has his reasons.”
“But Admiral Irons is the commander in chief. Are you saying Admiral Childress has gone rogue? Is Bek in a state of mutiny?”
A cold breeze seemed to hit the senior staff all at once.
“I … think you need to direct that question to public affairs,” Horatio said carefully. “Now, if you'll excuse me,” he said, ducking his head as he made his exit. He managed to get past the knot of reporters and people looking on and into the military-only side of the spaceport lobby.
“Bastard. He's really painted us into a corner now,” Admiral Childress fumed, clearly nettled by the interview.
“He told the truth. We don't like it, but …,” Admiral Draken shook his head.
“Are we in a state of mutiny?” Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh demanded. The Naga stared at Admiral Childress and then turned his attention on Admiral Soar and Strike, the elderly Delquir Judge Advocate General of the star system. “Well?”
“I can't answer that. I don't know,” the Delquir Admiral said simply. Her delicate, gossamer wings flicked a few times on her back before she settled herself down on her perch. “I haven't seen the orders,” she said simply, looking at Admiral Childress. All eyes turned to him.
“We're going to have to answer that,” Admiral Draken said quietly. “We're going to have to show that we're following his orders, at least to some degree,” he implored.
Admiral N'r'm'll was still. “I agree,” he said.
“As do I,” Admiral Soar and Strike said. “I need to see those orders,” she said, turning her long eye stalk to Admiral Childress expectantly.
“They are addressed to me, and I've classified them as need to know,” Admiral Childress said tightly as his jaw set and he started to grind his teeth. “That's all you need to know. You follow the lawful orders of your superior officer and the chain of command. If you have a problem, bring it up with me or resign,” he said.
That cooled the room into an uncomfortable silence.
“If anyone resigns, it will be an admission something is wrong, sir,” Admiral Soar and Strike pointed out. “Which won't bode well.” She glanced at the Neogorilla marine, then to Admiral Bolt and a few of the other officers who were on the fence. She turned her attention to the Veraxins. Both squirmed in their saddles but said and indicated nothing.
“Frack,” Admiral Hill muttered. Things were moving south fast. One misstep, one person backed into a corner, and it could all come apart. “We really are on a slippery slope. I think we need to all take a step back and reassess the situation,” she urged quietly.
“I believe we need to show that we're following some of the admiral's orders. To that end we need to throw our support behind the commodore's project while also finding a place for Admiral Zekowitz, at least until the heat dies down,” Admiral Draken said.
“You think it will? With him and the administration feeding the fire?” Admiral Hill demanded, indicating the screen as she hit mute to drown out t
he talking heads who were busy picking apart the commodore's statement and then spinning it to get people going.
“Eventually it will. The public has a short attention span,” Admiral Draken pointed out.
“Oh hell,” Admiral Childress said, eyes arrested by the image on the screen. “Turn it up,” he said, indicating the Neochimp and the screen. “NOW!” he demanded.
Admiral Hill picked the remote back up and turned the mute off as Admiral Childress's wife came on screen.
“ … I don't know what you are talking about.”
“Mrs. Childress, is your husband in mutiny as some have said? Is he refusing orders?”
“All I know is he made promises he can't keep,” the old woman said, rounding on the Veraxin reporter. “To me and to others. He knows he's in the shit house with me. He's probably shacking up with another hussy and waiting for me to die. That's not going to happen anytime soon. The bastard got his rejuvenation but then denied it to me, saying he can't,” she snarled, eyes glittering. “He promised me,” she hissed.
“Yeah, that's not good,” Admiral Creator of Things said mildly.
Admiral Draken looked from the T'clock to Admiral Childress. He could see from their boss's pale face and subtle shaking that he was infuriated beyond words. The man scrubbed at his mouth, quite possibly begging his wife to stop talking.
“Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go to my sister's house. She's arranged a meeting with a couple attorneys,” Mrs. Childress said with a sniff and wave. “Ta,” she said as she got into the air limo and took off.
“Attorneys?” Admiral Childress whispered. “No, damn it …,” he reached for his phone.
“I think we're adjourned for the moment,” Admiral Draken said rising out of his chair. The others hastily did the same as the admiral tried to get a hold of his wife and perform more damage control.
Something told him the man wasn't going to be too successful. He winced when he heard a crash. He turned to see the wall screen cracked and broken with a broken chair in front of it. He shook his head and ushered the others out.
~<><{<^>}><>~
“Do you think it will force him out?” Admiral Hill asked as the staff made their way through the outer offices to the elevators.
“I highly doubt it. I think it will force him to play lip service to Admiral Irons' orders,” Admiral Soar and Strike said. She shook her long eye stalk and then dilated her blow hole on top. Her claws flexed. She was prohibited from flying in the office but that didn't stop her from twitching her wings a few times in agitation.
“For the moment,” Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh stated.
“I do not like the situation he's put us in,” Admiral Soar and Strike said. The others couldn't tell from her ten-faceted eyes which person she was looking at, but they all felt like she was eyeing them.
“The less some of us know, the better I think,” the Neogorilla brigadier grimaced. “I think I'll take the stairs,” he said gruffly. He left without another word or backwards glance.
Once he was gone, all eyes turned to Admiral Draken. “Damage control?” Commandant C'v'll asked.
“We need to get behind Commodore Logan and his project and push. Do so publicly in a way that shows we're doing something,” Admiral Creator of Things stated.
“He should be fired or brought up on charges,” Admiral N'r'm'll buzzed, clearly unhappy about the commodore's admission on camera. “What was he thinking going to the press like that?”
“He didn't go to them. It was obvious he was ambushed,” Admiral Creator of Things stated, bobbing his antenna in annoyance.
“Oh? How did they know he was there?” Admiral Hill demanded.
“How did you? They probably have people staking out the spaceports. If he made regular trips that would be logged,” Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh stated thoughtfully. He knew for a fact it was true. Every major media outlet had files on everyone of importance. They had paparazzi following them, especially those who tended to like the bad boy image a little too much. It was great fodder for a slow news cycle.
“True. He's been seeing a pair of civilians, friends of his,” Admiral Hill admitted.
“Friends? Not his trip to the Sema home?” Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh asked, turning to his deputy. The tip of his tail flicked and then his entire tail coiled. He physically blocked the lifts.
“No, no, friends. A pair of Neochimps that came out with him actually,” Admiral Hill explained. “He's been trying to get them into his project but he's been denied.”
“Even though both hold reserve commissions,” Admiral Creator of Things interjected. All eyes turned to the T'clock. “One is a chief engineer. The other is his wife, a PHD with doctorates in hyperspace physics,” he explained. “Most likely he's going there to fill in the blanks for the ship project. I noticed his team doesn't run into a wall for long. He usually takes a day trip or makes a call and then the answer comes to him.”
“He's tapping them. That's illegal,” Admiral N'r'm'll stated.
“He can discuss things in general. Not specific things,” The T'clock flag officer retorted. “Which reminds me,” he said looking at Admiral Ss'k'ttthhh. “You might want to have your people pull back and stop following them or have a cover story in place. With the media watching him, it is only a matter of time before they pounce on that and ask more awkward questions, like why he's being spied on,” he said.
Admiral Hill glanced at her boss. Slowly the massive Naga head nodded sagely. “Wise,” he said. He turned two of his eyes to his Neochimp deputy. “See to it.”
“Yes, sir,” she said tightly.
“So, we fast track the project, hold that up to counter the charges, and that will partially spike his and their guns,” Admiral Draken said, bringing them back on target.
“And Admiral Childress? He's not going to take this lying down you know,” Admiral N'r'm'll pointed out.
“I'll sell it to him. Raw if I have to. He has a long memory; he knows the art of being patient and waiting for the right time to bring up and settle old scores,” Admiral Draken said.
“Keep him out of the press as much as possible,” Admiral C'v'll stated.
“We'll reprimand him for that of course. I'll deal with it,” Admiral Creator of Things replied.
“Yes do. We've got damage control to deal with,” Admiral Draken said as his phone went off. As he looked down to pull it out of his, everyone else's did as well.
“Here we go,” Admiral Hill sighed.
Chapter 33
Horatio was reprimanded for talking to press by Admiral Creator of Things. It was a minor hand slap of a chewing out, so he took it well. He could tell from the bug's gleaming faceted eyes that he silently had approved of the statement.
“Now that we've gotten that out of the way, on to more important business,” the T'clock stated.
The commodore's eyebrows went skyward, but then came back to a level and normal position as the T'clock laid out what was about to happen. “The powers that be have decided to get behind your project and push. It's being fast tracked. It is also going to be partially open to the public, so be prepared for that,” the T'clock warned.
Horatio nodded. “Am I going to get more resources, sir?”
“Yes. I've already confirmed that you can pull Bailey and Galiet on board. In fact, I've already sent them a message. They are packing now. Galiet's semester was about to end anyway, so she's free. We're negotiating with Bailey's employers. Apparently, they are near bankruptcy anyway.”
Horatio winced but didn't say anything.
“You are going to get an explosion of people and resources. I'm putting everything behind this, so you're going to get full access to BuShip's design and architecture departments. Use them wisely,” the T'clock said, bobbing his antenna in warning.
Horatio nodded. “Yes, sir. We will.”
“Good. Strike while the iron is hot, Commodore. You've got a narrow window while the public's full eye is on this project. I know it can and probably will hamper your
efforts, but you need to get as much done as possible while you can. Once public scrutiny dies, I'll expect your support to start to dry up or be redirected. So, the sooner we start building the ship, the better.”
“Yes, sir,” Horatio replied with a nod. “We've gotten a lot of the problems sorted out. I've drawn on a few ship designs to plug some of the holes. And obviously Bailey and Galiet will help the project along immensely,” he said.
“See that they do. I went out on a limb to get this project moving. Don't disappoint me or saw it off behind me, Commodore,” the T'clock warned.
“I'll do my damnedest not to sir,” Horatio vowed.
“Good. Carry on then,” the T'clock stated by way of dismissal.
~<><{<^>}><>~
With the public excited and watching, the brass grudgingly on board and providing support, the team on project Ilmarinen underwent a sudden overnight explosion as people and resources turned up. That largess initially elated but bewildered the staff.
Admiral Creator of Things hadn't been kidding; by noon they had gained the full access to BuShip's design and architecture department. Calls flooded in to help.
The Ilmarinen design began to rocket through the design spiral. Using much plug and play hardware helped the process along. Despite that Horatio brought in Commander Thistle and Admiral Bolt in to make it easier. Admiral Bolt allowed the Chimera commander to start setting aside hardware for the project.
With additional computer support and priority, Sims were run constantly as the architects finished them. Sometimes the sims were finished within an hour of being submitted. The team started to struggle to keep ahead of the process.
Horatio held meetings in his office with the various staff. It was a pain in the ass to teach some of them the basics of modern engineering. He ordered them to do their homework before they started to complain about stuff they didn't understand.