Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 03

A screen dropped down from the ceiling and began playing the movement of the ships of Fleet Cook and the comm traffic that took place. For fifteen minutes the screen displayed the action that had happened just a day ago. When it ended the screen retracted.

"How does the accused, Caughey Abbán, plead?"

"Not guilty. I was just trying... "

"The accused will be silent," Donal said banging on the table.

"The accused does have the right to tell us his side of the story."

"The accused may now speak to the charges."

"You bet I will. I was just trying to get around their flank to give them hell is all."

"Were you ordered to do that?" Milford asked.

"Well no, I took the initiative... "

"Were you not ordered to hold your position?"

"No."

"Shaffer, replay time hack 0457 please."

"Yes, sir."

The speakers in the room crackled, then clear as a bell, Admiral Cooks voice came from them.

"All ships, fire at will and keep firing until those Gar ships are cleared from my screens. Stay in formation as we turn."

"I didn't hear that last part... "

"The other ships did. They were polled before we went into hyperspace."

"But... "

"Are you finished?" asked the Admiral.

"I never heard that last part, sir... I'm done."

"We will have a short recess. Captain Kelly, Commander Bardon, join me in the passageway, please."

"Of course sir," Donal said, rising to follow him out.

"Could it have been that simple?"

"What? He didn't hear the last part of the transmission when everyone else did?" Donal replied.

"Yes."

"It could be, but he's still an arrogant snipe," Bardon said.

"He is that."

"He should never have made it through the Academy," Bardon said.

"They are hard pressed to fill positions... " Donal said.

"That's no excuse," the Admiral said. "What do we do?"

"We find him guilty and get him out," Bardon said.

"But your his council," Donal countered.

"So. He's guilty."

"He is right," Admiral Cook said. "Fine, let's go back inside."

They filed back in and took their seats.

"We have had all heard the evidence presented against the accused. What say you?"

The officers around the table looked at each other muttered among themselves for the next five minutes. Then turning as one, Donal Kelly, rose.

"Having conferred amongst ourselves, we find the accused, Caughey Abbán, guilty of all charges and specifications."

"Sentencing recommendations?"

"Sentence is to be a dishonorable discharge, forfeit of all pay and allowances and ten years at a penal facility of the Federations choosing, to be carried out at the courts earliest convenience."

" Caughey Abbán, stand." Caughey stood, a frown on his face. "By the power invested in me, you are hereby sentenced to be discharged from service with a less than honorable status. Until such time that the sentence can be carried out, you will be confined to the brig on the Mauthe Doog."

Caughey's shoulders sagged. A Marine stepped up touched his arm. Caughey turned and preceded the Marine out the door.

"Mister Ó Ciaráin, being charged with the same crime, how do you plead?" Ó Ciaráin stood and faced the Admiral at attention.

"Guilty sir."

"Then having pleaded guilty, I hereby sentence you to a reduction in grade to Midshipman and a return to the Academy as a freshman plebe."

"Yes sir, thank you, sir."

"Until such time as this sentence can be carried out, you will perform duties assigned you by the Captain and First Officer of this ship."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"Dismissed. The Court is adjourned."

Chapter 77

The Mauthe Doog flew silently thru hyperspace. Her crew, enveloped in cold sleep, waiting for their arrival at Aldebaran V. Shaffer and Poll were the only two awake on the entire ship. As Shaffer stood watch, he could feel, every once in awhile, one of the nurse androids turn herself on and walk the cold sleep decks, checking her charges. Shaffer not only scanned the sensor readout, but he also had one monitor set to view the outside of the ship.

The hyperspace tunnel flowed by them. It's billowy cloud formation sharply changing in color and hue so fast that only an android could make any sense of them. Those same formations and changes would drive a human mind crazy. To Shaffer it was soothing. Poll, joined Shaffer at his station. He too watched the ebb and flow of the hyperspace clouds that made up the walls of the tunnel.

"I feel sorry for our human counterparts," Poll said.

"Why?" asked Shaffer. Not that he didn't feel sorry for them.

"They can't enjoy the beauty of the hyperspace clouds."

"There is that, yes. Maybe one day, when they are more evolved, their minds might be able to handle the wealth of visual information the cloud produces."

Both stood there watching the cloud formation as they sparkled and flashed their song.

"Well, back to work," Shaffer said, switching the display off.

Poll went to his console and started his check of the ship's functions. Shaffer remained at his station checking the ship's sensors. In other parts of the ship, other androids checked the workings of the ship.

The ship was now forty-five days out. It had been a long time to get where they were after having to recompute their acceleration schedule after all the fuel they had burned in the fight with the Gar. After about an hour, Shaffer and Poll returned to their cubicles.

Donal's head throbbed with pain. His body ached. The light from the overhead blinded him, causing massive pain to shoot through his head. As he lay there the pain receded slowly. Then his head was being gently lifted and a straw was placed between his lips.

"Drink," the soft voice of the nurse android said.

Donal sucked and a cool, tart liquid filled his mouth. As he swallowed the restorative fluid revived the tissue in his mouth and throat. He still didn't trust himself to speak, but he started to feel better.

"Come on, sit up. That's it swing your legs over the side. You got it?"

All he could do was nod, once he felt secure. His eyes still closed, he sipped more of the drink in his hand. The nurse android had left. She had others to revive. A lot of others. Donal, opened his eyes a crack. He closed them right away. He drank more and rested. He finished his restorative and set the flask down.

"Still not feeling well Captain?" another, different nurse android was by his side.

He shook his head wincing at the pain.

"Here," the android said, pressing something into his hand. It was another flask. A tube, straw, was placed between his lips. "Drink." He did.

This fluid was completely different. It cooled his throat, his mouth felt almost normal after one small sip. He sucked more, swishing it around his mouth before swallowing. The cool liquid spread it's pain relieving properties across his abdomen. Up into his chest and down his legs and arms. His head was suddenly clear. Opening his eyes caused him no pain. He smiled as he drank the rest of the liquid. He finally felt good enough to try and stand.

"No, not quite yet there Captain," Janice Gold said as he tried to lever himself off the cold sleep couch he now sat on. "Maybe in another ten minutes. Just rest there for now."

Looking across from him he saw his first officer, smiling as he watched him. Donal smiled back at him. Both men chuckled as they sat there feeling better by the minute.

"You two, go," Janice walked by tapping each couch.

Both men stood, a little wobbly at first, then more steady as they remained standing. Both walked off, toward the exit of the cold sleep chamber on the command deck.

"REPORT," Donal shouted as he entered the bridge.

"Captain on deck," the yeomen shouted. He and the command androids, Shaffer and Poll were the only ones present.

"Belay that yeoman. Poll, report."

"We will be dropping out of hyperspace in two days. So far there is nothing to report on sensors. All ships equipment is functioning properly. Shields are up, weapons are ready. Helm and navigation are on automatic."

"Thank you," Donal said.

"You are welcome, sir."

Donal spent the next thirty minutes scanning his screens and instruments. Halfway through the Admiral joined them.

"Admiral on deck," the yeomen said, a little softer than before.

Donal went back to scanning his board. Slowly, over the next hour, the rest of the bridge crew filtered in taking their seats and scanning their boards.

"Sensors, two blips have appeared about a day in front of us, heading to Aldebaran."

"On the main screen," Donal told him.

On the big screen up front, two blips shone brightly, between them and the solar system. As yet there was no data displayed beside the blips. As Donal watched, information started to display.

"Sensors, they are K'lar sir."

"I see, thank you. Admiral?"

"I don't know. Do we have enough fuel to get closer?"

"Mister Lacy, do we have enough fuel to get us closer?"

"Just a second sir," Egan Lacy bent over his console, tapping keys rapidly. "We do sir. We can get to within thirty minutes of them."

"Make it so, Egan," Donal said.

For the next day, the Mauthe Doog flew ahead of the rest of the fleet. The Admiral had ordered them to stay on course and maintain their present deceleration schedule. Early in the morning of the next day, the Mauthe Doog was ten minutes behind the K'lar ships.

"Comms, we are being hailed."

"Put it on channel nine. Donal, listen in."

"On channel nine, aye, aye sir."

"This is the K'lar ship Vestron, to ship closing on us. What are your intentions?" the translator said.

"K'lar ship Vestron, this is FOP Mauthe Doog, we are just following you in, the rest of our fleet is a day behind us."

"Yes, I see them. Thank you. We are here to request help with a mission."

"We'll talk once we arrive at Aldebaran."

"Thank you, Vestron out."

"Mauthe Doog out. Well, we might just have our next mission."

"Will we want to participate?" Donal asked.

"I think it will bond our two races if we do."

"You already know?"

"I suspect. From intel I have access to, the K'lar are going to try and retake their homeworld Rigel V and VI."

"Really, that close. I thought they were from another arm of the galaxy?"

"They were originally. Their world there was destroyed by the Gar, so they moved to Rigel V and eventually to VI. There they flourished for a thousand years. Then the Gar showed up once more. By this time they had ships and weapons comparable to the Gar and beat off their first attack. Over the next fifty years, the Gar attempted five times to push them back. Eventually, the Gar just overwhelmed them. Thousands of ships escaped and set up colonies on a number of worlds."

"Well if we participate, I think we will need some help."

"I think so too. I hope Fleet One and Three are available. And we are down two destroyers."

"There is that."

Both men sat, thoughts racing through their minds.

Later that day they dropped out of hyperspace right on the tail of the two K'lar ships.

"Comms, announce us."

"Aye aye, sir. "Aldebaran control, Mauthe Doog arriving."

"Confirmed Mauthe Doog. Are those two ships with you?"

"They are. They are K'lar and have come to ask our help."

"Confirm."

"I have it Comms," Admiral Cook said. "Aldebaran control, Admiral Cook, cipher one-one-five alpha-uniform. Confirm."

"Code confirmed. Thank you, Admiral."

"You're welcome, we will follow the K'lar vessels in."

"Confirmed. Control out."

"Mauthe Doog out."

For the next four hours, Mauthe Doog shadowed the two K'lar vessels. Then they were in orbit around Aldebaran V.

"Comms, notify the K'lar that we will expect them here, on Mauthe Doog, within the hour."

"Aye, aye sir."

Chapter 78

Two K'lar shuttles arrived at the forward shuttle bay, one from each ship. There were four men from each ship. Major Conlan and four of his Marines met the K'lar party and escorted them to the command conference room. The K'lar all wore the translation buttons, but not of Federation design. Admiral Cook stood at the head of the table as the men of K'lar entered.

"Welcome gentlemen, welcome to the Mauthe Doog."

"Thank you, Admiral... "

"Cook, sir. And this is Donal Kelly, captain of the Mauthe Doog. To his right is Commander Cian Bardon his first officer. The gentleman to my right is Commander Onóra Cassidy our Chief Engineer."

"Thank you, Admiral Cook. I am M'lat, Captain of the Vestron, with me is my chief engineer M'tan, my first officer, M'fal, and my communications officer M'nan. The man beside me is the Captain of the Kor, M'tat, with him is our High Admiral M'mal, the other two are clerks to handle any requests of the High Admiral and hold no rank."

"Very nice to meet you all. Now if you would please be seated we will begin," Admiral Cook said, sitting down himself, hoping he wasn't violating any protocol of the K'lar.

"Thank you, Admiral," M'lat replied, holding the chair for his High Admiral, although Milford got the impression the title meant a lot more than the button translated it to be.

"We were hoping to meet with the Captain of Warrior One. When we talked to your base here on Aldebaran we were told Warrior One would be here."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that. Let me check on what is going on... "

"Comms, Warrior One arriving. Orbit in one hour," a speaker on the wall blared.

"Thank you, Comms. It seems they will be here in an hour. May I have refreshments brought in? Water at least?"

"Yes, water, water will do nicely. We have brought our own sustenance."

"Cian will you see to the refreshments, water for all will be fine."

"Yes sir," the first officer replied rising and leaving the conference room.

Ezra sat on the edge of his chair as they dropped out of hyperspace. The screens showed Fleet Cook orbiting Aldebaran V, with two K'lar ships. He had hoped to beat the Admiral here, but no matter from the information Aldebaran provided, Mauthe Doog had only just arrived in-system as had the K'lar vessels.

"Candle, have them ready a shuttle for transport to the Mauthe Doog."

"Yes, sir."

As they made orbit, a shuttle exited Warrior. It took a total of five minutes to make the transit to Mauthe Doog. He was met by the Doog's protocol officer.

"Are they in the command conference room?" Ezra asked.

"Yes Admiral," she answered as Ezra hurried down the passageway.

"No need for you to come, I know my way."

"Yes sir," she said slowing and then finally just stopping to watching as Ezra hurried away.

A minute later Ezra was at the door of the conference room, where two burly marines stood in his way.

"Step aside Sergeant," Ezra commanded.

"Sorry sir, I can't do that."

"I think you better call your commander, then."

"I have my orders... "

"Admiral Cook if you will," Ezra said to the grill above the conference room door.

The door opened and Captain Kelly's head peeked out. "Marine, let the Admiral pass, that's an order."

"Aye, aye, sir." The marine snapped to attention, stepped aside allowing Ezra to enter.

"Thank you, Marine," Ezra said in passing.

"I hope you know what's going on. The Admiral and I have a guess, but we haven't started anything awaiting your arrival."

"I do and thank you. M'lat, how good to see you again."

"Ah, Captain Nichols... no, Admiral Nichols. Congratulations my friend."

"Thank you. And who is the important person with you?"

"Admiral Nichols, I am very pleased to introduce you to High Admiral M'mal, holder of the order of K'lar and protector of the western realm."

"It is an honor to meet you, grand sir," Ezra bowed.

"It is my pleasure also, Admiral Nichols. M'lat has told me a great deal about you and your grand ship. May we see it."

"Of course Admiral. But while I have my commanding Admiral here, why don't we get the business part of this visit out of the way first?"

"Of course, a wise decision. Please take a seat Admiral."

"Thank you, sir." Ezra sat in the middle of the table, with an empty chair on either side of him. "Now what was it you wished to ask of us, sir?"

"As you know, our homeworld in the system you call Rigel has been under the control of the Gar for... a long time."

"We do," Ezra conceded. Admiral Cook sat silent willing to let Ezra take the lead without any discussion between them. Ezra could see him fidgeting. He let him.

"And you also know that the Gar chased us from our original homeworld far down in another spiral arm?"

"We do, sir."

"And since that time we have colonized many worlds in this arm of the galaxy?"

"Yes, sir."

"The K'lar are a proud people, sometimes too proud. It has taken me a long time to get the K'lar Grand Council to let me come here. We should have asked you when we first met you and assessed your capabilities."

"And what would you ask us, sir?"

"Help us throw the Gar off our home world, in Rigel."

Chapter 79

Admiral Cook could hold his tongue no longer. "I knew it," he growled.

"Problem Admiral?" Ezra asked, know there wasn't.

"Absolutely not. Fleet Cook is at your disposal, Admiral Nichols."

"Thank you, Admiral. We can use all the ships we can get. Fleet One is on its way here, scant minutes behind me. Fleet Three will join us in two days. The Sé, Crón, and Roisín will be joining us later this afternoon."

"Does this mean you will help us?" High Admiral M'mal asked with bated breath.

"It does. After all, to have a Gar base this close to our home world... well, we just couldn't have that."

"Four of our fleets will join you. They are waiting between here and Rigel."

"Well, tell them to join us here, for resupply and fueling. Do you have such ships that enable you to refuel and resupply on the move?"

"We do, but rarely use them. Our fuel requirements are quite different from yours."

"We suspected."

"Your weapons technology is quite different from ours. More powerful and your magic torpedoes... "

"Not magic M'lat, just technology."

"Of course. I will call our fleets in so we may coordinate our attack strategy."

"I think that would be best."

"Comms, Fleet Cook arriving."

"Very well comms," Admiral Cook answered.

Then the speaker blared again. "Comms, Fleet One arriving."

"Cian, please go tell Comms, not to announce in here anymore. And tell sensors about the K'lar fleets that will be joining us later. M'lat, if you would like to go communicate with your fleets?"

"Thank you, but I would rather send my communications officer M'nan if I could?"

"Cian, accompany Officer M'nan to Comms and let him contact his ships."

"Yes sir," Cian answered getting up and leaving the conference room, guiding M'nan to Comms.

"Now let us get to the business of planning the demise of the Gar at Rigel."

The planning sessions took five days. By that time Fleet One, Fleet Cook, Fleet Three along with four fleets of K'lar ships were ready to depart. Each fleet had its own acceleration schedule. Each fleet would arrive at a different time, from a different direction. Over the next few hours, the fleets disappeared into hyperspace on their mission of liberation.

To Be Continued...