A New Beginning Ch. 08

***

The meal was far better than expected. The 'Amanda-Maddison' having a highly sophisticated and advanced hydroponics bay that produced superior consumables than the HC ships.

"That was delicious." Hank said to Jessica as they danced to the serene music.

"Yes.. we should look into advancing the hydroponics on the 'Jean-Paul'." Agreed Jessica with a warm smile.

The combination of good food, having Hank close, the relaxed atmosphere of the four crews mingling was working wonders. All of those present were seeing how things could be if they worked together.

Walker passed close to them, twirling a laughing Delacroix. His own face beaming with pleasure.

"The future doesn't look bleak right now." Said Rawlings to them as he moved himself and Holly close. Holly Reed was smiling too as she let Rawlings lead her across the dance floor.

Choi led Jessica towards the table they had been sat at as he lent closer to Rawlings. All four of them walking together, Choi and Rawlings talking amicably about nothing more important than the usual daily goings on. Laughing occasionally as they referred to some memory the conversation would trigger.

"Your girls are adapting well." Holly said to Jessica as they took a seat.

Jessica smiled and nodded. She was pleased at how well things were going, the Gen Enhanced women were interacting normally and enjoying themselves.

"Given time, I expect we will all be just seen as human beings." Jessica replied. The setting meant that while they were all in formal uniform. It was rude to use their Ranks when talking, for now it was plain Holly and Jessica. No need to say Captain or Sergeant.

Holly Reed shrugged. She hoped Jessica was right but kept her doubts to herself.

"That would be nice to see." Was all Holly said by way of reply as she picked up her glass of wine. She took a delicate sip to hide her thoughts. The former pleasure girls were acting well right now, but Holly knew they would all soon be moving to some hidden corner for some kind of sexual liaison.

Jessica ignored the temptation to say more. She had noticed Holly's expression, she knew what the woman must be thinking and couldn't deny that the girls would seek sexual pleasure. Mentioning that it was normal for them wouldn't help Jessica's cause.

Jessica was just glad that Penny and her team had done as asked. Walker was seeing them more as people than as sexual toys or slaves, his entire crew showed signs of a new attitude from Penny's report. Jessica felt more at ease than she had in weeks. The risk that they had taken in trusting Walker's word had proved worth taking but she had worried about it the entire time she had been out of contact.

***

Two days Later...

It had been a long day for them all as the formal yet informal Reacher style conference had once again been held. This time for nearly two days.

Done with the details. Jessica and Captain Holly Reed sat at a hovering desk. Tiredly sending out final orders they had all agreed on.

Jessica sipped at her coffee as she went over the details with Holly Reed. Holly had become the Chairperson for their group meetings. A group that consisted of the four Captains, Hank Choi as the senior Marine and Jessica as the Gen-Enhanced rep.

Two Chief Engineers and Wing Commander Blake Adams had joined them for the last meeting as they reorganised and prioritized for the next jump. Crew exchanges and damage repair crews had all been agreed to as they mended the very last of the external battle damage from the battle at Janus.

"How do you feel about Delacroix's admission?" Asked Holly as she signed off on the distribution of a Hydroponics manager to the 'Jean-Paul' in exchange for a senior gunnery technician to the 'Amanda-Maddison'.

"I can't blame her... that was an intense and different time... but I do feel angry about it." Jessica told the young female Captain she was rapidly coming to respect and like.

Holly nodded in understanding, unsurprised by the reasonable and mature response from Jessica. Holly held Jessica in high regard and had already exchanged her former PG's. assigned them back to the 'Jean-Paul' for training and gained six of the fully trained and exceptionally dedicated Gen-Enhanced Marines.

"I agree... we would have spaced you too if it hadn't been for Rawlings and Choi." Holly replied, softening the macabre fact with a reassuring smile that conveyed her thoughts.

Jessica sighed as she rubbed at her temples.

"You know... I never wanted to be a leader. It's so demanding." Jessica answered. Her face showing a maturity far beyond her years. Jessica outwardly remained a beautiful young girl, hardly looking twenty. Her large blue eyes, slightly upturned nose and rose coloured hair made her appear like an innocent teenager. All of her intelligence and drive was hidden by a manufactured mask she could never change, only the spark in her eyes gave away the brightness hidden within.

"You are a natural... a born leader. That's why you can put aside your personal feelings about what Delacroix did and see the facts... I think your people are VERY lucky to have you." Holly reassured Jessica.

Jessica nodded her thanks before changing the subject. She had no wish to dwell on Delacroix's admission of spacing what could have been seven more Free Gen-Enhanced people.

"I'm more worried about Heaven Five... I know Rawlings thinks we can bluff and pass it by on the way to Kellos but even with the time delay due to distance.. the Holy Company are going to know we are on Kellos within a year." Jessica said to Holly as they started to send off the paper work and messages. Paper for the Marines and PG's. Electronic coded Messages for the fleet personnel.

Holly shook her head.

"I don't think that's all he has planned.. Walker and Rawlings have been discussing it on the side and I'm SURE they have more up their sleeves than we know." Holly answered without giving away what she had already been told.

***

Jerry Rawlings pursed his lips as he looked over the preposed plan he and Jack Walker had come up with.

"Destroying the station would be better for us but I'm in agreement with you Jack... killing all those innocents wouldn't sit well with me or my crew." Rawlings nodded as he pointed to the display of a rotating space station. His finger touching the massive civilian area of rings around a long central spire.

"And Taking it is fine... but then we would have to hold it and control it indefinitely, splitting us up... Nope, I think what we have worked out is the best for us all." Walker said poking a finger through the holographic image of Kellos with a smile. Letting his finger point past the partially terraformed plant to unknown space.

"That's IF the Reacher's are doing what we hope they are." Jerry sighed out.

"They will be Jerry.. I've talked with some of my Reacher descended crew and so have you, history tells them that as soon as they start on one planet they send out people to look for another." Walker shrugged. The knowledge was patchy at best but indicated they might be able to go further out than the Holy Company would think of.

Rawlings rubbed at the stubble on his chin. The Reacher's had constantly been robbed of every planet they had terraformed and had finally jumped to the distant Kellos only to see the Holy Company build a watchful space station right next door. He and Jack had sat down and come to the same conclusion, that the Reachers would have gone out even further. Delving past where sensors could look for their next project.

Both of the men hoped they were right and were banking on the idea of having four war ships and battle hardened crews swearing fealty to the Reachers would buy them passage to this as yet unknown destination.

"I guess we are done then. This is as much planning as we can do for now.. other than outfitting our ships for a very long trip." Rawlings said as he shut off the displays.

Walker nodded in agreement.

"The ship I took from Niles' fleet has great distance capabilities. More advanced hydroponics and less cool down time for it's FTL drive... I've sent you and the others the spec's so we can work on that."

"Thanks Jack.. the 'Lilith' had some of that but not quite as advanced." Rawlings admitted with a smile of gratitude. Now that they had made peace over Walker and Delacroix's early jump they were once more on the same page.

They stood and shook hands. Walker shrugged as he was about to leave.

"Look... I know I already said sorry for jumping early... but... Jerry... I won't ever abandon you to a fight again. Sam and me have talked it over and we both feel bad about it... we stick together from now on."

"I get it Jack... and I'm glad to hear it.. My ship will stay by you and Sam's... live or die. We go out together." Rawlings assured his old friend.

*******

Twelve weeks later...

Four ships winked into existence a thousand miles from where Heaven Five should have been. What they saw was debris.

"What the fuck happened here?" Jerry said in a whisper as he looked out at what was a still expanding sphere of floating debris. Where the station had once been was the emptiness of a Ion explosion surrounded by scattering remains.

"Looks like a self-destruct... Maybe Niles hit it?" said Delacroix over the comms.

A frenzy of activity ensued as they launched Hornets and shuttles to investigate. Sensors quickly established that Kellos remained much as it was expected to be.

"Captain... I have a corvette pinging us." Comms lieutenant Dawes informed.

"One of Niles' or a Reacher?" Rawlings asked. Half expecting bad news.

"Neither Sir.. it's an old HC Corvette... it's asking why we are with two rebel ships."

Corvettes were fast and well-armed. Not too much of a danger to a battle cruiser but they could inflict damage while avoiding standard fire. Rawlings reply was with that in mind.

"Transmit my identity code and ask for theirs... check it against our data base."

"Checks out Cap... Registered to a commander with full HC authorisation." Dawes said with a smile as he received the information.

"Take us in." Rawlings commanded while telling his friends to stay back. Moving the 'Jean-Paul' closer to where the Corvette seemed to be standing guard between Kellos and what had been 'Heaven Five'.

*****************

Author's note...

Hi all. Yes this is not quite the same as originally intended but had to change due to the way I see the story progressing. It's more of a fill in episode to explain what will happen next and while I hope you will like it, I don't expect much in the way of positive feedback.

That being said. Please DO give me feedback as it all helps with the process of writing and makes me want to do more.

Chapter 9 is almost complete as it ties in with this one as was written almost at the same time.

Thanks for reading.