Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 01

"Ah... yes, sir."

"I don't know how things were done on the Pech, but here on Warrior... well, I'm not in the habit of sharing my battle plans with anyone but my battle staff, which you are not one of. Do I make myself clear Lieutenant?"

"Aye, aye sir."

"Also, if you were to be part of the plan you would be so notified. If you don't hear from me prior to us going into battle, then assume you have no part to play in the plan. Is that clear?"

"Aye, aye sir."

"Now... at ease Lieutenant and have a seat," Ezra said.

"Uh, yes sir," Carol said taking the chair next to Laffs.

"Just one more thing, Mister Ryan, most of our missions will be fast single pass actions. You and your flight will not be required for those. Actually, I am afraid to launch your flight as long as we are moving faster than a crawl. I don't want to lose you because we have to get out of Dodge fast."

"Uh, thank you, sir."

"Now let's all have a drink," Ezra stood, turning to the sideboard behind his desk.

Chapter 32

Arrival at Aldebaran V was uneventful, at least until the K'lar and their lifeboats were moved to Aldebaran. Admiral Cook was on his shuttle and in Ezra's office in next to no time.

"Take it, easy Admiral... " Ezra started only to be waved to silence.

"Your next mission," the Admiral said handing Ezra an envelope.

"Uh... I thought you were here to raise bloody hell about the K'lar."

"Yes and no. It was a pretense to bring you these. All the time we were waiting for you to return, I kept trying to think of ways to get over here without anyone realizing I had orders for you."

"You have always visited us after a mission, what would be so different this time?"

"Nothing my boy, nothing, just the meandering of an old man."

"You are not old."

"Thank you, my boy, but I know what I am. Now, I will leave you to your orders. Fueling and armament as usual. You will be utilizing those aft bays for fuel. Half your crew will remain in cold sleep, you have a long way to travel."

"Yes, sir. Where are we going?"

"I don't know. I have told you what I know. One other tidbit, you will not be alone. Warrior Two and Three will be joining you. Your fighter escort will be moving back to Pech. No need for you to tell Lieutenant Ryan, she has already received her orders."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Can I get you a drink?"

"No, I must return to the Doog, we too have orders."

"Oh, might I inquire as to where you will be going?"

"Sorry, my orders were also sealed and I haven't opened them yet."

"Too bad, I would have like to know."

"I know, I know. Well, until we meet again."

"Aye, aye sir. Fair winds and following seas."

"Fair winds and following seas." The Admiral turned and hurried out of Ezra's ready room.

Plopping down in his chair, Ezra looked at the envelope in his hand. He was snapped out of his reverie by a knock on his door.

"Enter!" he shouted.

Two men stepped into his ready room, Connor MacDonald, and Lafferty Owens. Ezra slapped his hand to his forehead before either could speak and pulled it down his face.

"Laff you first," he said.

"Aye, aye sir. The K'lar are returning to the ship. I was just notified by ground control. They will be here in an hour."

"Well go see to their quarters. Lieutenant Ryan and her group will be departing shortly."

"They have already started, sir," Laff said.

"Connor?"

"I'm being told to prepare our aft storage bays for fuel storage again."

"Correct, see to if you will."

"Aye, aye sir." Connor just stood there.

"What else Con?"

"Our engines sir."

"What about them?"

"They are due for an overhaul... soon. The sooner the better."

"I assume you're talking about the sub-light engines?"

"Oh, yes sir. The hyperdrive engines are purring like a kitten. No need for them to be touched."

"I see. Sit, both of you." Connor and Laff sat, a rare privilege, one Laff had now experienced two times. "I have here our orders. Orders that even the Admiral doesn't know about. He knew of them, just not what is in them. Anyway... he did tell me a few things. Connor, I have to assume we will be traveling a long way in hyperspace and will be utilizing our sub-light engines to get there quickly."

"It would help to know how far we are going," Connor said.

"Indeed," Ezra answered opening the flap, breaking the wax seal there.

Pulling out the folded papers, Ezra started to read to himself.

"Holy shit! Eighteen hundred light years. A star called Wezen in Canis Major," Ezra exclaimed. "I sure hope this isn't a mistake. We are to rendezvous with Warrior Two and Three at our starbase on Capella IV in Auriga in five days."

"Aye, standard travel time from here. If we leave tomorrow we will be there in four days. I assume we will be hanging around here for another day?" Connor said.

"Yes, we will," Ezra confirmed without telling them the reason why. "We will be offloading the K'lar to Fleet Two, who will transport them to Atlas. At Capella, we will top off our tanks and food stores and head out the next day."

"What's our target?" Laff asked softly.

"Want an edge in the ship's pool, Laff?" Ezra laughed as he looked at the target. Well, the crew could do their research, although he bet there was little known about the Wezen system. "Sorry, Laff."

"Sure you are," Laff chuckled.

"Gentlemen, you know what you need to do, now go, do it," Ezra said chuckling.

"Aye, aye sir," Laff and Connor said at the same time.

Chapter 33

Capella IV shone a bright blue on the main screen in the control room, its rings tilted to the left as Warrior sat in one of the Lagrange points around the planet. Capella station was just off-screen. Switching to a different view, the station was now displayed in the center of the screen with Capella IV just to the right. Ezra sat watching the shuttles depart from Warrior with the K'lar aboard. Fleet Two would be here in two days. Warrior Two and Three were already here, arranged beside Warrior One. Shuttles from the two ships were on their way.

One of the Captains, Ezra knew. He had gone to the Academy with her. Captain Bridget Brogan was an experienced ship handler. Ezra had just beat her out in both command and tactics classes. That's why he was first to command a dreadnought class ship in their fight against the Gar. The other Captain, Rohan MacKenna, had been at the top of his class. He was in the class after Ezra and Bridget.

Orders, on this mission, Ezra was in command. As the senior Captain, he was now also the commander of the three-ship group. Bridget was going to love that. As for Rohan, well Ezra would just have to see.

"They are here sir," Candle said softly as he stood behind the Captain's Chair at his console.

"Thank you, Candle. If you would have Commanders MacDonald and Nolan join us in the command conference room. You too, by the way."

"Yes, sir." Candle made the call to Commanders MacDonald and Nolan. "Ready sir?"

"Yes," Ezra said rising from his couch. "Did the others bring their command androids?"

"No, sir."

"This should be interesting," Ezra muttered as he walked off the bridge toward the command conference room. "Commander Beckett you have the conn."

"Indeed," Candle said softly.

"Aye, aye sir," Beckett called out.

The pair walked in silence down the wide corridors of Warrior the rest of the way to the conference room and were met by Commanders MacDonald and Nolan at the door.

"Gentlemen," Ezra said in greeting.

"Captain," both replied. Candle was ignored in the exchange. After all, he was just an android.

Commander MacDonald opened the door for Ezra, then followed him in. Commander Nolan went next and Candle Steel was last to enter. Inside were two young healthy looking people.

"Commanders MacDonald and Nolan, Captains Bridget Brogan and Rohan MacKenna. Captains, my Chief Engineer, and my Chief Navigator. Please, everyone, be seated. Captain MacKenna, it is a pleasure to meet you, sir."

"Thank you, Captain," Rohan said coolly. Bridget rolled her eyes, then scowled at Rohan. "Leave off Bridge."

Ezra looked the young man over with a critical eye. Ezra remembered when he first set foot on Warrior as her Captain. Was it only a year ago?

"Captain," Candle said, snapping Ezra out of his reverie.

"Yes to orders." Ezra slid two envelopes across the table to each of the Captains. "No need to read them, I already have and will explain what is in them, but please, go ahead and open them if you wish."

Ezra watched as Rohan slipped his thumb under the flap until Bridget nudged him with her elbow. He stopped what he was doing and looked up at Ezra.

"If you're ready. Our orders are to destroy the planet Wezen III and IV."

"How are we to do that?" Rohan asked harshly.

"I see you haven't kept up on your reading of mission reports," Bridget snarled back at Rohan.

"What do you mean?"

"Just last month Warrior One destroyed Algenib VI on a run through that system," Bridget said testily.

Rohan's eyes flashed toward Ezra. He actually glared. Ezra just smiled.

"Thank you, Captain Brogan."

"You are welcome Captain Nichols."

"To orders. We will fly by Wezen III and IV. We will each expend half our load of missiles on each planet... "

"That will be over twenty thousand missiles," Rohan said excitedly.

"Times three," said Ezra coolly. "As we get close to Wezen, we will drop out of hyperspace so we can determine the best approach to accomplish our mission. Oh, by the way, Wezen is eighteen hundred light years from here. Seventeen hundred and sixty-five to be exact. We will come out of hyperspace twenty-two light year out, in... how many days Eric?"

"Fifty-six, sir."

"Eighteen hundred light years in hyperspace will take months... close to a year almost... "

"Again you neglect to read mission reports, Rohan," Bridget said shaking her head in resignation.

"Mister MacKenna," Ezra said. "Do you... "

"That's Captain MacKenna to you... "

"Mister MacKenna, from here on out, you will keep your mouth shut until I am finished talking. At which time I will ask if there are any questions. Is that clear?"

Rohan sat there with his mouth open. Bridget just shook her head. Eric scrubbed his face with his hands. Connor opened his mouth to say something, but Ezra's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"Is that clear Mister MacKenna?"

"Si... " Rohan cleared his throat. "Sir, it is." You could see his contempt, yet his training and common sense finally took hold and he sat still, at attention.

"That goes for you too, Mister Brogan."

"Aye, aye, sir," Bridget said softly.

"Good, now to continue."

Chapter 34

Ezra finished the briefing, telling the two new Captains about accelerating once in hyperspace. They looked at him, yet held their tongues. Connor then briefed them on what to expect, which was basically nothing and what the outcome would be when they dropped out of hyperspace. This time they weren't slowing down before they came out and would carry their speed with them through the system.

"Thank you, Connor, you and Eric are dismissed."

"Aye, sir," Connor said.

"Yes, sir," said Eric rising to leave.

"I will take my leave too, sir," Candle said.

"No, stay Mister Steel."

"Yes, sir."

"You two," Ezra said glaring at the other two Captains. "You not only embarrassed yourselves but your ships. Not a word, not one word," Ezra growled. "You will sit there and listen to me. You will follow my orders as pertains to this mission. If we encounter Gar ships, most likely, you will fight your ships, but you will not deviate from the mission plan. Is that understood?"

"Aye, aye sir," Bridget said loudly.

"Aye, aye sir," Rohan said, hesitating.

"Mister MacKenna, you see things differently?"

"No sir, it's... "

"Read your orders, I have, then get back to me if you think I'm in error."

"Aye, aye sir," Rohan said stiffly.

"The next time you come to a meeting on another ship, bring your command android... "

"What for?" Rohan croaked.

"To keep you informed of what is going on in your ships for one. Your command android is in constant communication with your ship's computer. You two have effectively been out of communication with your ships for over an hour and a half. Anything could have happened that they needed to consult with you. Mister Steel, how many queries have been made for either Captain?"

"Captain Brogan has been asked for ten times, Captain MacKenna twelve."

Ezra waved the two to silence. "Any of them important?"

"No, sir. If they had I would have notified you."

"Thank you Candle, you may go now."

"Yes, sir." Candle turned and left the room closing the door behind him.

"So now you know why you bring you command android with you wherever you go. Clear?"

"Yes, sir. Sir, it there any way to find out what messages were sent?" Bridget asked.

"Sure, when you get back to your ships. Lesson learned?"

"Yes, sir," both Captains responded.

"Now, join me for a drink and tell me about home."

"Yes sir," Bridget said smiling.

Rohan didn't respond but smiled at the mention of home. The three sat for another hour talking about home and bring Ezra up to speed on the happenings and goings on there. Both finally wound down and then jumped realizing the time they had been away.

"Don't worry, if something important had happened, Candle would have notified us."

"You call you command android by its first name?"

"I found that it's easier to be nice to people and you may not think of androids as people but they do... think of themselves as people. Ever heard the expression, you get more flies with honey than vinegar?"

"No sir, I don't get the reference. What is a fly, what is honey and vinegar for that matter."

"Right... and they call me the barbarian."

"Not anymore sir," Bridget said flatly.

"How many have you beaten to a pulp?"

"Only one, then the rest stopped."

"I see. Well thank you, but I wish you hadn't."

"Yes, sir."

"Back to the proverb. It has to do with sweet and sour and insects."

"I see," Rohan said looking at the overhead.

"If you are kind to someone, they will be kind to you. And even though androids aren't humans, they want so much to be accepted by us, I find it is easier to deal with them if I treat them as such. When we get back, talk to your Admirals, they will tell you the same as I. Now it's time you got back to your ships. We leave at oh-eight-hundred day after tomorrow."

"Aye, aye sir," they said in unison.

Rising, they both left the room. Ezra sat there a moment longer before heading to the chow hall. He was suddenly very hungry.

Chapter 35

For the next three days, Warrior One, Two and Three stood too at Capella station. Two and Three were having their aft bays filled with fuel and started the process of placing half their crew into cold sleep. Warrior One already had half the crew in cold sleep. On the way to Wezen, half of the crew that was awake would be placed into cold sleep for half the trip, then the other half would rotate into cold sleep for the last half of the trip. Fifty-six days was a long time in hyperspace. The longest know flight had taken just forty-two days and even though the ship was sealed and the screens were off, one out four crew broke down and had to be placed in cold sleep before the cruise was over.

"Sir, I have ten ships that just dropped out of hyperspace, three AU's out and closing."

"That should be Fleet Two, but you never know," Ezra told Ensign Carlson.

"Aye, aye sir."

"Sir, comm, Warrior Two just signaled the approaching ships."

"Son of a bitch. Comm, get me Captain MacKenna on a private channel, A.S.A.P."

"Aye, aye sir... Captain MacKenna on channel four, sir."

Ezra punched the button to make the connections to channel four on his console. The screen in the middle of his board lit up with Rohan's image.

"What part of radio silence don't you understand Mister MacKenna?" Ezra yelled into his microphone.

"Uh... it's Fleet Two approaching... "

"Not the answer to my question. Which word, in your ORDERS about maintaining radio silence don't you understand?"

"Sir, I have Admiral Adair on channel two."

"I'm waiting, Mister MacKenna," Ezra was irate over MacKenna's inability to follow orders.

"Sir... I thought... "

"That's just it Mister MacKenna, you didn't think. You are relieved, turn over command to your first officer and place yourself in cold sleep, that is an order. Do you understand?"

"No, sir... "

"Silence!" Ezra shouted. "Commander Pierce, you are now the Captain of Warrior Two, place Mister MacKenna under arrest and place him in cold sleep until this mission is over, where he will then face a courts martial."

"Aye, aye sir," Commander Pierce's voice came from the speakers of Ezra's console.

"Captain, Warrior One out. Comm cut that connection." Ezra stabbed at the button for channel two. "Admiral, so good to see you. I hope your trip out from Earth was a pleasant one?"

"Captain Nichols, I have Captain MacKenna on another channel claiming you have just relieved him and his second in command was placing him under arrest. I told Commander Pierce to hold off until I could talk to you. What the hell is going on Captain?"

"Sir, I will explain everything once you are on board Warrior One. But, Captain MacKenna was under orders to maintain radio silence, he disobeyed those orders in contacting you." Ezra just left it at that.

As he watched the Admiral, he saw his head turn slightly, then he said a few words and turned back to Ezra's image.

"I will await your report when I come aboard Warrior One. In the meantime, I have told Commander Pierce to follow your orders."

"Thank you, sir. How long until you are here?"

"Two hours out and braking hard. See you fifteen minutes after we have achieved orbit."

"Aye, aye sir, see you then." Ezra punched the button to break the connection and flopped back in on his couch. "Comm, get Captain Brogan."

"Aye, aye sir... Captain Brogan on channel two, sir."

"Ezra, what's up," Bridget said as her pretty face resolved itself on Ezra's screen.

"I had to relieve Rohan, I thought you should know."

"Fuck! What did he do... no don't tell me... he broke radio silence, didn't he?"

"He did. Commander Pierce is now acting Captain. Rohan should be in cold sleep by now to await courts-martial when we get back."

"Oh, dear. Well thanks for notifying me. Is the radio silence order still in effect?"

"Until you are notified otherwise."

"Aye, aye sir. I await your orders."

"I will call you later." Bridget smiled as Ezra watched her punch the button to disconnect the comm channel.

Chapter 36

Ezra met the Admiral at the shuttle bay airlock. After pleasantries, Ezra led the Admiral down to the command conference room. The Admiral was surprised, yet not all that surprised, to find the Captain of Warrior Three and the Acting Captain of Warrior Two along with their command androids. Admiral Adair's command android Pan was with him.

"Admiral, I'm sure you know Captain Pierce. Let me introduce you to Captain Bridget Brogan, Warrior Three's commander."

"Sir," Bridget stood, snapping to attention and saluting the Admiral. Commander Pierce was also on his feet as the Admiral entered.

"At ease Captains. Very pleased to meet you, Captain Brogan."

"Thank you, sir."

"I assume they are both here to bear witness to Captain MacKenna's disobedience."

"I'm afraid so sir," Ezra sighed. "I really tried to give him my support, but he was... "

"Was what son?" Admiral Adair said softly.

"He was an arrogant pig," Bridget spit out before Ezra could stop her. "I'm sorry sirs, but he was destined to his fate from the start."

"How so Captain Brogan?" Admiral Adair asked.