Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 01

"Yes, sir."

"Who is Captain Pierce's first officer and where is he?"

"Commander Scully is on Warrior One, sir," Candle said.

"Is he uninjured?"

"He is sir."

"Have him report to my ready room please."

"Of course sir," Candle said making the call to wherever Mister Scully was.

Ezra was already headed to his ready room. As he arrived there was a woman waiting for him. Although he was surprised at Commander Scully being female, he treated her like anyone else in the service.

"Commander Scully," Ezra said as he opened his door.

"Yes sir," she responded snapping to attention.

"At ease Commander, please enter," Ezra told her holding the door open for her. "Have a seat."

"Thank you, sir." Kevea was surprised by the Captains hospitality.

Once seated, Ezra looked Commander Scully over. She was tall, her hair was flaming red and her eyes were emerald green. She was slim and very pretty. Smiling at her he cleared his throat.

"Ahem, Mister Scully, what is your first name please?"

"Kevea sir."

"Kevea, a pretty name, it means beauty or grace, does it not?"

"Yes sir, thank you, sir."

"To business. In about twenty minutes you and a select crew will be transferred back to Two. Your Marines have secured the ship and your command android has unlocked all command consoles."

"Is that bastard MacKenna dead?" Kevea spits out.

"I didn't ask. You know which people, departments and such need to be there for the attack run to succeed. Also, the attack run has been altered. We do not hit Wezen III with missiles. We hit every Gar ship we can as we pass, but III will be left alone as there are K'lar on the planet."

"So there were ships out there?"

"Yes. They are allies, don't forget that."

"No sir, I won't."

"Now, get with Candle, my command android and get the people you need. It doesn't matter which ship they are on. Shuttles and pilots will be provided. The rest of your people will be transferred after our run."

"I understand sir."

"Kevea, relax. We are here to help you in any way we can. If you are short a person, either Three or I will lend you who you need. Candle will know who and where they are."

"Yes, sir."

"Now go."

Kevea stood, snapped to attention and saluted, turned and left before Ezra could salute her back. Shaking his head, Ezra returned to the bridge.

"Course correction in two minutes," Commander Nolan said.

"Very well," Ezra answered. "Candle notify the crew."

"Yes, sir. All hands stand by for course change in two minutes."

"Thank you, Candle."

"One minute to course change, sir."

"Thank you, Mister Nolan."

"How hard will we have to accelerate?"

"Just a bump sir, we came out pretty close to the proper course."

"Thank you."

"Course change in five, four, three, two, one, execute."

The inertial dampeners kick in just in time to keep everyone from being turned to mush. Ezra grunted as his couch took his weight. Looking up at the main view screen, he watched the course change.

"Have the other two ships executed their course correction?" Ezra asked.

"Yes, sir," Candle replied.

"Transfer of personnel to Warrior Two can now commence," Commander Nolan said as the course held steady.

"Candle, make it so."

"Yes, sir."

Chapter 43

For the next forty minutes, Shuttles traveled from Warrior One and Three to Warrior Two. Ezra stayed in contact with Chandler the whole time. When Commander Scully finally showed up on the bridge to take over, Ezra still stayed in the loop, until all her personnel were at their stations.

As it turned out, Rohan MacKenna was still alive. Ezra had him returned to Warrior One on one of its shuttles. The rest of the mutineers were placed in cold sleep on Two. Then all three ships were in hyperspace. Ezra decided for all three ships to stay in radio contact as they approached Wezen IV.

"Warrior One, are our load-outs still only half our missile load?" Bridget asked.

"Affirmative, Three. You copy Two?"

"Two copies."

And so it went as zero hour counted down. All three ships coordinated their drop out.

"Full radio silence once we are back to normal. Once we have finished our run, then radio silence is no longer required."

"Two, aye."

"Three, aye."

"Plot, time to normal space?"

"Two minutes."

"Thank you. Good luck Two and Three. Comms cut connections."

"Connections cut."

"Time to normal space one minute."

"Very well."

Then they were in normal space, racing toward Wezen IV.

"Sensors, report."

"Sir, twenty-seven Gar ships in orbit around IV. Sixteen that I can see around III."

"Weapons, launch torpedoes as we come in range."

"Aye, aye sir. One hundred sixty-two out."

"Very good. Fire missiles when in range."

"Sir, firing. Loadout."

"Mister Candle hit rate estimates?"

"When they are available sir."

"Very good. Any response from the Gar?"

"Three ships maneuvering, none that will catch us."

"Time to Wezen III?"

"Ten minutes, sir," Commander Nolan replied.

"Sensors, any more information on ships around III?"

"Yes sir, an additional ten ships now coming on screen."

"Weapons, torpedoes?"

"Torpedoes away."

"Sensors, six ships maneuvering around III. One is predicted to have an eighty percent chance of catching us."

"Weapons, allocate six more torpedoes to that ship."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Sensor, sir. Holy mother... Wezen IV has exploded, is exploding."

"Very good, record."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Estimated damage to ships around IV?"

"Sir, all of them will be destroyed."

"Excellent!" A gasp went around the bridge at Ezra's exclamation.

"Sensors, Gar ships around III are starting to go dark or disappear."

"Very good."

"Time until course change to Aldebaran?"

"Twenty minutes, sir," Eric Nolan said softly.

Ezra was suddenly very tired. There was a duty he had to perform that he didn't want to. Turning to the bridge crew before him, he scanned the crew there. He'd need Eric for what was to come next. So that left Teague Kinsella.

"Candle, would you have Commander MacDonald, Commander Beckett, Major Owens, Commander Quinlan and Commander O'Connor report to the command conference room. Mister Nolan, I will require you there also. Mister Kinsella you have the conn."

"Aye, aye sir," Eric Nolan answered.

Commander Kinsella was frozen in place, his second was waiting for him to vacate his couch.

"Mister Kinsella, is there a problem?"

"Ah... no sir," he stammered.

"Then you better move, don't you think?"

"Aye, aye sir," Teague responded as he walked stiff-legged to the command couch.

"Mister Candle, I will require you also," Ezra said.

"Yes, sir."

"Mister Kinsella, everything is preprogrammed, you just have to go through the motions and let the helm take the lead," Ezra whispered as Kinsella sat on the couch with reverence.

"Yes, sir."

Chapter 44

"Candle, have that lou... have Mister MacKenna escorted to the conference room if you would. Talk to Captain Tanner."

"Yes, sir."

When Ezra entered the conference room everyone he had requested was present. As he walked to his chair, the weight he felt on his shoulders increased tenfold. When he was at his chair, the room came to attention. Smiling, he shook his head in disgust.

"Be seated gentlemen, ladies," he told them as he remained standing.

"I am now convening a courts-martial, you are the court. I will be the judge. The accused will no doubt represent himself, but Major Owens you will be his advocate. Do, you think you can be objective in this matter?"

"Yes, sir," Laff responded.

"Very good, I will also represent the prosecution. Any objections?"

No one said a word. The door opened and MacKenna was led in by three burly Marines, followed by Captain Tanner.

"Prisoner as ordered sir."

"Very well Captain, station two of your Marines outside the door. You and the third will remain beside the prisoner."

"Aye, aye sir," Joyce responded motioning two of her fellow Marines into the corridor.

"Captain Rohan MacKenna, former Captain of Warrior Two, you are hereby charged with mutiny. You are also charged with... what was the last count Candle?"

"Thirteen, sir."

"With thirteen counts of murder. You are further charged with assaulting a superior officer and twenty-two counts of assault on fellow crewmates. Do you have anything to say as to the charges just read?"

"Fuck you and this kangaroo court," MacKenna shouted. "I'll kill all of you the first chance I get."

"Evidence?"

"On the screens sir," Candle said.

Everyone was now reading what was on their screen. Security video from Warrior Two had been transmitted to One. Everyone in the room growled at what they saw.

"Major, any comments, rebuttal?"

"None sir, the evidence is clear."

"Does your client have anything relevant to say?"

"Fuck you... " the air whooshed out of his lungs as Captain Tanner's fist connected with his abdomen.

"That will be enough Captain."

"Aye, aye sir." Tanner jumped back from the prisoner.

"Court what say you?" Ezra said solemnly.

The men at the table looked at each other, then at the prisoner as he climbed to his feet, arrogance in his glare.

"Guilty, sir."

"Having been found guilty on multiple capital offenses, I hereby sentence you to death as all these crimes were perpetrated while we were in a state of war. Sentence to be carried out as soon as possible."

Ezra turned in his seat opening a drawer in the credenza behind him. Reaching inside he pulled the pistol out, aimed at MacKenna and fired one round into his head. He then gently lay the pistol down on the table.

"Have this garbage removed from my conference room. Shove his body in an airlock and ejected into space."

While the courts-martial had been going on the ship had made its course correction and jumped to hyperspace. As he sat there, his fellow officers stared at him. Some with a renewed respect, others with fear, yet all with an admiration he didn't deserve. The two Marines came bursting in, weapons drawn until Joyce Tanner called them to order. They carried the dead prisoner out into the corridor to wait for pick up by a med team.

"You are all now dismissed from your duty here. Report back to your posts."

No one moved.

"Please go before... "

"Sir," Connor MacDonald said.

"Connor, stay. The rest of you are excused."

"Aye, aye sir," replied commander Beckett for the rest of those present.

They all stood and moved slowly to the doorway.

"Candle, stay," Ezra told him. "Commander Beckett relieve Mister Kinsella if you would."

"Of course sir," Candle replied.

"Aye, aye sir," Phin Beckett said as he pulled the door closed behind him.

"Connor?" Ezra turned to Commander MacDonald

"I just thought you might want to talk about this."

"Not really. But, it was something that had to be done. Candle, please inform Warrior Two of the proceedings."

"Yes, sir."

"Ezra, I know and I am proud of you for doing this, but you really need to talk about what you did."

"I will when there is time.'

"Of course sir."

"Thank you, Con. You are a good friend."

"I appreciate that Ezra, I do."

"We should get back to our duties."

"We should."

All three rose and left the conference room.

Chapter 45

Three giant ships circled Aldebaran V as the sun lit their black hulls. Nine smaller, much smaller, ships orbited just to the rear of the three giants. A shuttle was making its way to the giant ship in the lead. Two more shuttles, one from each of the other giant ships, were making their way to the lead giant. Aldebaran V shone green and blue in the background. On the bridge of the first giant stood the Captain of the vessel Warrior One. Ezra Nichols was awaiting his fate. A fate he knew was coming. Coming in the form of the Admiral of Fleet One.

"Sir, his shuttle has docked."

"Thank you Candle," Ezra told his Command Android. "Mister Beckett, you have the Conn."

"Aye, aye sir," Phin Beckett answered his Captain's call, walking slowly to the Command couch. He stood waiting for the Captain to leave the bridge.

Nodding, Ezra turned and left the bridge.

"I have, the Conn," Commander Beckett said loudly.

Ezra smiled to himself, wondering if Phin would have the conn permanently after this meeting with the Admiral. When Ezra entered the command conference room, it was already filled with officers from his ship as well as those from the other two giants in orbit. Ezra stood at the empty chair at the foot of the table. There was one empty chair, that at the head of the table, for the Admiral.

"Admiral on deck," came the shout from the Marine at the door. The room clamored to their feet.

"As you were," came the order from the Admiral as he strode purposely to the head of the table. "Be seated, please."

Everyone who had a chair sat, the rest moved back against the walls and relaxed. The Admiral busied himself for a few minutes by pulling folders and paper out of the case he carried with him. Shaffer, his command android, stood behind him and took the case when the Admiral was finished.

"I have read all the reports and log entries. I have also, through Shaffer, talked to the command android of each ship. As well as Captains Brogan and Pierce, along with each of their first officers. As of yet, I have not talked with Captain Nichols. Although I have talked with then acting first officer Commander Kinsella. I have also read the minutes of the courts-martial that was convened by Captain Nichols.

"Now having said that, is there anyone who would like to add anything? No. I have several questions for Captain Nichols... "

"I am ready to answer them now sir."

"Very well. Why wasn't the officer that released Rohan prosecuted?"

"He was killed when the Marines on Warrior Two took back the ship."

"Why wasn't that in your report?"

"I only found out as we came out of hyperspace."

"I see. And those that helped them?"

"I can answer that Admiral," Captain Pierce said.

"Go ahead."

"I convened a courts-martial for those still alive that participated in the mutiny. All were found guilty and sentenced to death. They were placed in an airlock and deposited into space. All in accordance with articles of courts-martial."

"Very well."

The Admiral sat there shuffling his papers and folders as he stared down at the table. He seemed agitated.

"Commanders MacDonald, Nolan, O'Connor, Major Owens will remain. The rest of you are dismissed. Shaffer have Captain Tanner report."

"Yes, sir."

The room remained silent, nobody moved. The Admiral looked up.

"That wasn't a suggestion, you're dismissed," he said softly.

Everyone not staying, moved quietly as possible toward the door. Once they were clear of the room, Captain Tanner stepped in and closed the door behind her.

"Captain Tanner... "

"Take a seat Captain," the Admiral instructed her.

"Aye, aye sir."

"I almost... Ezra, having formed a board of inquiry... listen my boy... damn. The board has found you acted in accordance with established protocols of rules and regulations of a courts-martial while a state of war existed.

"Now as... "

"Admiral, I don't think... "

"As to the rest of you." The Admiral glared at Ezra causing him to remain silent. "The board has also found you acted in accordance with... blah, blah, blah, you get the drift. This had been a horrendous blotch on the service. How that miscreant was able to get through the academy, I'll never know."

"Sir... "

"Not now... "

"I have to sir."

"No, you don't. Now shut up and that's an order, Captain Nichols."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Captain Pierce has received a letter of reprimand to be placed in his jacket. He should have known... "

"He was in cold sleep at the time, as were all the Captains," Ezra said.

"No excuse. He should have known and placed those crewmen in cold sleep along with that buffoon MacKenna. You would have known?"

"Would I?" Ezra responded.

"You would and you know it. Now, we are finished here. Not another word on this subject. Now... how did the mission go... I know, I read the reports, but it's always better hearing first-hand accounts."

"The ships performed flawlessly, the planet blew spectacularly."

"Who would have thought that the K'lar inhabited III. That was a surprise, I bet."

"It was sir."

"Ezra, you have been nominated for a Silver Cross for your actions leading up to and after the mission."

"Who?"

"I'm not a liberty to say."

Ezra scanned the faces in the room, but they all registered surprise and pride in their Captain.

"I really don't deserve it, sir," Ezra said humbly.

"Of course you do. Your officers think so as does your crew."

"Thank you, sir. Thank you all."

"Now to business. Could we have your first officer here, Ezra?"

"Of course. Shaffer if you would."

"Yes, sir."

Three minutes later Commander Beckett was sitting at the table.

"Your orders for your next mission. This will be a strike deep into Gar territory. You will be going thirteen hundred light years to a system we are all familiar with, Alnilam in Orion. Alnilam IV to be exact. This time we are going to offload half your crew. They will be guests on Warrior Three, which will be headed back to Earth. Where you will wind up when you finish your mission.

"There you will have a month of R and R while your engines are overhauled."

Connor MacDonald almost jumped out of his seat with joy.

"Aye, it's about time. I'm having to nurse them along as it is."

"I got your report Connor along with Ezra's recommendations."

"Aye Admiral."

Admiral Cook slid an envelope down the table to Ezra.

"Now, carry out your orders. Come, Shaffer."

"Yes, sir."

Chapter 46

The trip to Alnilam IV was long, even though the trip to Wezen had been further, but the crew didn't notice it passing this time as they were all in cold sleep. The Admiral had given specific orders that everyone would sleep on the way. The ships androids woke everyone up when they were still ten days out. For two days, a groggy crew filled the corridors and common spaces. On the third day most, if not all of them were back to being themselves. As the time grew near, all stations on the bridge, in engineering, and in the weapons bays, were manned and ready for transition.

"Normal Space in ten seconds," Commander Nolan announced.

"Thank you Mister Nolan," Ezra returned as he scanned his board.

"Normal space," came the words almost shouted by Eric Nolan's assistant.

Ezra smiled at the young Ensigns eagerness.

"Scans report."

"Sir, Alnilam IV coming up now... thirty... no... oh my god three hundred Gar ships. Three unknowns inbound from three-three-one, six degrees off the plane. They will get to the planet first."

"Get me an ident on those ships."

"Aye, aye sir." Egan Dwyer pounded on his keyboard.

"No need to beat it out of the computer Mister Dwyer."

"Aye, aye sir," Lieutenant Dwyer answered pulling his hands from his board as he watched the information start to scroll across his screen. "Sir, ships are unknown, but bear a resemblance to those described by the K'lar."

"Very well, when we are in range place them on screen. Weapons, those bogies are to be assumed friendly."

"Aye, aye sir," Commander Kinsella answered calmly.

"Mister Dwyer, how much sooner will those unknowns reach Alnilam before us?"

"Fifty-two minutes, sir."

"Thank you, Mister Dwyer. Mister Kinsella, target every Gar ship with at least one torpedo please."

"Aye, aye sir, already done."

"Very well. Will we have any left?"

"Yes, sir. Twenty-seven, sir."

"Right. Save them."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Time to target?"

"One hour, thirty-seven minutes."

"Very well."

Ezra sat back and watched the data flow across his monitors.