Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 02

Copyright © 2015 - 2019 - This is an original work by Zeb Carter and is protected under copyright by U.S. copyright law. It is only submitted at Literotica.Com and any submission to any other site has not been authorized by the Author. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Author's Note: Just a note to those who care or are looking for sex in a Sci-Fi setting. There is no sex in this story as told. No tentacle sex or normal human sex. Sorry, that's the way these things go. Have fun. This is one of the short parts, only 13,000 words long.

Chapter 54

Captain Fina Dugan's Pech orbited the moon waiting. Pech's hyper-drive engines had just been overhauled at the Scara Mensa shipyard on Mars and Fina had been ordered to Earth orbit to await further orders. For three days they orbited homeworld, waiting. Pech was one of the older carries. It was bigger than the Tilliums and the Glencullen, but now with its new hyper-drive and upgraded sub-light drives, it was just as fast. It was early in the first watch and Fina was sitting in the chair watching the surrounding space for as far as her sensors could see. Fina was bored.

"Sensors, three ships, bearing two-five-zero." Fina perked up, there may be some action after all. "IFF indicates Glaistig, Ceasg, and Caoineag." Fina slumped back into her chair.

"How long until they arrive?" she asked.

"Two hours, Ma'am."

"Very well," she said dejectedly.

It had been a long time, what with the upgrades and refits to her beloved Pech since Fina and her crew had been in action. Meanwhile, Warrior had been tearing up space in the war against the Gar. Even though Pech was a carrier, her armament wasn't to be laughed at. She had the same torpedoes as the other ships. The same missiles. The same plasma cannon. She also had one other thing the other ships didn't have, fighters. One hundred twenty-seven fighters. Six squadrons of high-tech mayhem sat in the bowels of Pech. Ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

"Sensors, three more ships just came out of hyperspace out beyond the Oort cloud."

"ID?"

"IFF showing friendly. Mauthe Doog, Selich and Wulver, Ma'am."

"Time to orbit?"

"Two hours. They are going a bit faster than the other three, Ma'am."

"That leaves Warrior, Seonaidh and Airne Mor." It wasn't a question.

"Aye, Ma'am," Sensor Tech Maguire answered anyway.

Fina chuckled to herself. She had liked Brennan ever since he came aboard. He was bright and knew his job well. For the next hour, Fina ran practice drills. If she was bored, so was her crew. She always ended the drills before the fighters launched, though. No need to waste fuel on practice drills.

"Sensors, Warrior One dropping out of hyperspace, in-system. Arrival time twenty minutes."

"Very well," Fina acknowledged, shaking her head.

Ezra was taking a chance dropping out of hyper within the system. No telling what kind of debris was floating around, just waiting for a ship to try and occupy the same space. In the early days, ships had come out of hyper in system only to become small supernovas when a piece of junk tried to occupy the same space as they were. The explosion was spectacular. Fina had seen the vids. Brilliant bursts of light brighter than the sun, that lasted for mere seconds.

Twenty minutes later, Warrior was beside Pech in orbit around the moon. Forty minutes later the other six ships were with them. Pleasantries were exchanged and then they all waited for the last two of their sister ships to arrive.

"Sensors, two ships dropping out of hyperspace just inside Pluto's orbit. One is heavily damaged. IFF show Seonaidh and Airne Mor. Airne Mor is showing heavy damage to its port side. Seonaidh is slowing, but Airne Mor isn't. Sub-light engines are damaged."

"Very well. Casualties?"

Brennan looked to where the ships command android usually stood.

"Data not available, Ma'am," Brennan said.

"Very well let me know when it is. Are tugs being dispatched?"

"Aye, Ma'am. Four tugs have just left earth orbit to rendezvous with Airne Mor."

"Very well."

Fina too felt a little naked without her command android, Diamond, but he was moon-side having some new upgrades installed. Once all the ships were in orbit, their command androids would be shuttled down to the moon for their upgrades.

Chapter 55

Ezra Nichols watched as the four tugs brought the Airne Mor to a stop in orbit not far from Warrior One. Casualties had been high as Airne Mor had covered the escape of Seonaidh from an ambush by the Gar. Captain Torna Hagan would most likely be receiving the Navy Cross for his action at Tsih in Queen. This also meant that the upcoming action would be without Fleet One's second battlecruiser. Ezra shook his head, feeling Captain Hagan's loss.

"Sir, Command Services have ordered all the command androids to Command Services Intelligence base for upgrades."

"How long this time Candle?" Ezra asked.

"Five days, sir," Candle answered.

"When?"

"Immediately, sir."

"I see. Very well, off you go. Get yourself a shuttle ride down, " Ezra told him.

"Yes, sir."

And Candle was gone. Ezra watched the big screen as emergency shuttles cued up to remove wounded crew from the Airne Mor.

"Comms, Admiral Cook has called for a meeting of Captains of the Fleet tomorrow at eleven hundred hours standard."

"Where, the Mauthe Doog?"

"No, sir. Here, aboard Warrior, sir."

"Can...shit," Ezra swore as he looked around where Candle usually stood. Pressing a button on his console, "Commander Morrissey please report to the Captain's ready room."

"Aye, aye sir," came the response a few seconds later.

"Mister Beckett you have the bridge," Ezra said standing and leaving.

"Aye, aye, sir," Phinn responded as he headed for the chair.

A knock at the door alerted Ezra to Commander Morrissey's arrival.

"Come in," he shouted.

Tara Morrissey was Warrior's Protocol Officer. She would have been the one Candle called to get the Command conference room ready for the meeting tomorrow. Tara Morrissey was a petite redhead, who always had a smile on her lips.

"At ease Commander," Ezra told her before she could snap a salute.

"Aye, sir." Tara stood at parade rest.

"Sit," Ezra grunted.

It took Tara a second to comprehend what she had just been told. She sat slowly in the right-hand chair in front of the Captain's desk.

"Sir?"

"Tara, there is going to be a Command Captains conference here tomorrow at eleven hundred hours standard. I have to assume that it will last at least through lunch, if not longer. So prepare dinner also. And coffee, lots and lots of coffee."

"Yes, sir. Any special equipment?"

"I don't know, but I assume the Admiral will be bringing any he needs with him."

"Of course sir."

"That will be all. Any problems, you will have to contact me. Candle is unavailable at the moment."

"Aye, aye sir." Tara stood snapping to attention with a proper salute.

"Thank you, Commander," Ezra replied nodding at her.

Torna Hagan, Captain of the Airne Mor, walked down the short hall from his ready room to what was left of his bridge. That it had been open to space just a scant twenty-four hours ago meant nothing. That six of his bridge crew had disappeared through the hole in his beloved Airne Mor, meant more to him than he could believe. Six men and women, gone in the blink of an eye. That's how long it took the environmental shields to snap into place. He had also lost his command android, Carver Steel. No time to search, they had been under heavy fire, just time enough to jump into hyperspace and save the rest of the ship.

Notification had already been transmitted that the Airne Mor would be towed to Mars for a complete refit. Torna was in the process of getting things ready. He was in his chair, looking over the status display, mostly red when the comms panel started beeping. Looking around the bridge Torna found he was the only one there. Rising, he stepped over to Comms position.

"Airne Mor, go," he said tersely.

"Inform Captain Hagan, that Admiral Cook will be arriving shortly."

"Copy. Airne Mor, out." Torna broke the connection unceremoniously.

Great, just what he needed, the Admiral. Shaking his head he left the bridge on his way to the only shuttle bay still operational to meet the Admiral.

The Admiral's shuttle arrived not ten minutes after the signal. Torna was waiting. He watched as the bay doors opened and the shuttle slipped inside the battlecruiser. The airlock cycles and the Admiral stood before Torna, a sad frown on his face. Torna saluted, holding it. The Admiral snapped to attention and returned the salute with a flourish. Sticking his hand out, Torna took it in his.

"My condolences to you and your crew for those who were lost," Admiral Cook said.

"Thank you, Admiral," Torna replied.

"Is there someplace close by that we can talk?"

"Of course, the engineering conference room. Right this way," Torna said leading the way.

The conference room was just a short distance down the hall. It took only a few seconds to get there.

"Sit," Admiral Cook told Torna.

"Yes, sir. What..."

"Torna, you and your ship were supposed to be part of an upcoming operation, but since..."

"What?"

"Here," Admiral Cook pulled a packet from his ever-present briefcase. "Here are your orders to proceed to Mars for refit and then join Fleet Two until Fleet One returns. Your duties with Fleet Two will be to guard homeworld, while Fleet One, Three and newly launched Four will take the fight to the enemy. Sorry, but things start in just six days."

"Aye, aye sir," Torna said a lump in his throat forming.

"This is all classified, you will tell no one, not even Admiral Adair. Is that clear?"

"Aye, aye sir."

"Good. I just thought you should know where your fleet mates are going to be."

"Thank you, sir. I appreciate that."

"Well, I must be going."

"Sir, there will be a memorial service..."

"When?"

"Tomorrow, ten hundred hours, here."

"I'll be here, I promise."

"Thank you, sir."

"Don't get up, please." Admiral Cook rose and left the conference room.

Chapter 56

At the last minute, the memorial service was moved to Warrior One. Commander Morrissey was beside herself, she now had two events to coordinate. So many crewmates wanted to attend the service, the Airne Mor wouldn't be able to accommodate them all. The upper cargo bay of Warrior One would. The hour was set and the shuttles were cued up to off-load their passengers. All the shuttle bays were in use. Guides were posted to direct the visitors to the cargo bay. For those who couldn't attend, the services would be televised fleet wide.

The service was somber. The Fleet Chaplin presided. Torna spoke, but not for long. Admiral Cook spoke for longer than Ezra had ever heard him. He praised the men and women who had given their lives to protect not only their shipmates in the Seonaidh but their world. Several others spoke. The service ended with the ceremonial burial in space. The bodies of those still aboard the Airne Mor had long since been transported dirt side for burial at home. For those, who still floated in the cold depths of space, a prayer was said.

After the service, the captains of the fleet, along with the Admiral, retired to the command conference room abaft the bridge. For those who had never been aboard Warrior One, tours were arranged. For the rest, transport back to their ships.

In the conference room, all the captains and their executive officers were presently awaiting the Admiral's pleasure. Ezra and Phin were pouring coffee while Commander Morrissey was seeing to the seating at the table. After everyone was settled, Admiral Cook entered the conference room.

"As you were," he shouted before anyone could rise.

Admiral Cook went to the head of the table, plopped down his ever-present briefcase and a small holographic projector of the type the K'lar used. Standing there he looked the rank of officers up and down. Nodding his head, he sat, cleared his throat and began the briefing.

"Gentlemen...six day from now we will leave home system for a point some thirteen hundred light years from Earth. Arneb in the Hare. Our friends the K'lar have discovered a large Gar Colony in that system. Our Saxon friends have confirmed the intel. This will be a fleet action. With Fleet One's completion of upgrades, all the ships will be able to make the trip in twenty-two days. The fleet will linger in-system and destroy every ship there along with all outposts and cities planetside.

"Now, as for Airne Mor...it will be towed to Mars for repair and refit, which means we are down a ship. I have requested and received permission, to have the battle-cruiser, Iona from Fleet Two, join our mission. She will be here in two days, having just completed her refit at Mars' Scara Mensa shipyard. I will brief Captain Ailíse Sheridan when she gets here. Now down to battle plans gentlemen," Admiral Cook said pressing the button on the side of the projector. The room lit up with stars and planets.

Two hours later they broke for a late lunch. Half an hour after that they were back to work. All the Captains and their executive officers joined in. Plans were made, backup plans were made and everything was hashed out. All without a command android. It was a long day and night. They finally broke for dinner at eighteen hundred hours. After dinner, Ezra brought out a bottle of fine Irish whiskey and poured everyone a shot. Everyone sipped the delicate liquor and smiled.

"We will resume this meeting at ten hundred hours tomorrow," Admiral Cook said as he tipped his glass up to get the very last drop of the fine whiskey.

No one moved.

"Gentlemen, you are dismissed," the Admiral said softly. "Return to your ships, you have work to do there. Ten, tomorrow. Be prompt."

Nodding, all rose and slowly made their way out of the conference room. Ezra stood waiting, as did Phinn. When the room was empty, except for the Admiral, Ezra nodded to Phinn to leave.

"Good night Admiral," Ezra said. "Will you be returning to the Doog tonight?"

"Uh...no, I'm exhausted, could you find me a place to crash..."

"Of course sir. Tara."

"Aye, sir," Tara said, just appearing out of thin air.

"Please escort Admiral Cook to my in-port cabin."

"Aye, aye sir. Admiral, if you will follow me please?"

"Of course Commander. Thanks, Ezra. Good night."

"Good night Admiral."

At ten sharp all the Captains and Executive officers were back aboard Warrior and seated in the conference room. The Admiral walked in waving everyone back to their seats. He sat at the head of the table looking at his people. He was proud to command them. He was proud to know them. Clearing his throat he began.

"Fina, for this operation I want you to provide Warrior with a squadron of fighters. I know, I know, that will leave you short. I know you are actually under strength right now. How many more squadrons could you accommodate?"

"Uh, eight, eight more would put us at full TOC. With a squadron going to Warrior, nine."

"Good. You are getting ten. It shouldn't be that tight, Pech is a big ship for a carrier. Much bigger than Tilliums and Glencullen."

"We should be able to handle ten quite nicely, sir. We will, however, require additional support personnel for those ten squadrons."

"Very well Fina, I'll see to it. What's the ratio of support to squadron now?"

"We'll need five enlisted for each flight, with an officer for each twenty-five additional support personnel."

"I thought as much. You'll get them. That will make things tight, though."

"It will, but we'll get by."

"If I might," Ezra spoke up. At the Admiral's nod, he continued. "Lieutenant Commander Ryan's flight and one other would be about all I could take on. We are a little tight on quarters right now sir."

"Ah yes, the extra Marines. I forgot about them. Well, Fina?"

"Yes, of course, I could make up a light squadron consisting of two flights with Commander Ryan as squadron commander. Is that satisfactory?"

"It will do nicely," Ezra and the Admiral answered in unison. Both laughed.

"Good, I will reduce the number of squadrons to nine instead of ten, that should leave you with two extra fights to do with as you please. And now that that is settled, on to other business..."

"Sir, where are these other squadrons coming from? If I might ask," Fina asked.

"Ah, yes, almost forget that. Tilliums will be in-system later today, along with most of Fleet Two. Her squadrons will be transferring to Pech tomorrow."

"Aye, aye sir," Fina replied.

"Another new wrinkle. The Command Battleship Tór will be joining us on this mission. Fleet Admiral Lonan Fitzgerald thought we could use the firepower of his ship, plus the supplies they carry so we will be able to replenish our armory stores and refuel during the battle if need be," Admiral Cook said.

The officers around the table nodded that it wasn't a bad idea. The Tór was a massive ship. The only reason it was so massive, almost bigger than Warrior actually, was the two huge stores sponsons on either side of the ship. The body of the ship was between them. The shield generators were oversized to protect the ship and its cargo.

Then began another long day of planning. Every Captain missed their command android. They also learned that the newly commissioned Fleet Four would be moving from around Mars to Earth orbit tomorrow. For the last fifty years, these fleets have been in planning and construction. The design of each class was made by a different group, which now gave the Fleet a distinct look with seven different classes of ships. The old Fleet, just barely capable of hyperspace jumps, was aging and mostly used to defend planets in-system. These were the class of ships that had first encountered the Gar.

Chapter 57

The rest of the day was spent in planning. Planning their little part of the war with a foe none had seen in person. There had been reports of what they looked like passed on by the Saxons, but no picture, no image existed of a Gar. The mission of Fleet One was to take the planet or planets in the Arneb system and annihilate the Gar. No quarter was to be given. No prisons to be taken. This was an act of terror. In the past year, the Gar had destroyed three Earth colonies on distant planets. Everyone died. Men, women, children. All dead. This mission was payback.

About sixteen hundred in the afternoon, Fleet Four arrived. Ten ships of the line led by Warrior Four. Nine other ships followed in her wake.

"Gentlemen, Ladies, Admiral Kaylee Lowery will be joining us at sixteen-twenty here in the conference room. Secure all information on our upcoming mission. Drinks and appetizers will be brought in. Admiral Adair will also be joining us. Make both welcome but do not discuss our mission."

"Aye, aye sir," they all responded at once.

For the next few minutes, the room was filled with the sound of rustling papers and the clatter of equipment being stowed. The clink of glass and plates replacing them. Then Admiral Lowery was being shown in. She was short of stature, slim of waist, a twinkle in her bright blue eyes and a smile on her pretty face. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a bun.

"Welcome Admiral," Admiral Cook greeted her. "Welcome to Warrior One."

"Thank you, Admiral Cook, thank you very much," she said her voice bright as her smile. Yet there was something there that you knew she could be as gruff as the next Admiral when she had to be.