Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 07

"You heard the Commander," Glen said softly to his men.

The Marines moved past Gillian back the way they had come. The door was open. The two Marines moved inside, followed by Glen, Gillian, Thesses and the third Marine bringing up the rear. Halfway through the rooms, Gillian found she could see the other corridor on her scanner. It too was blocked by debris. They would have to find another way around that blockage. Once on the other side of the blockage, they found the passageway dark.

"Why aren't the lights on here?" Gillian asked as the Marine flashlights started to come on.

"Becker, go find the power junction," Glen said.

"Aye aye, Staff Sergeant."

Gillian kept her eyes on the scanner. She watched as Becker searched for the panel to the junction. Becker stopped, then the lights came on. Gillian watched as he returned.

"Someone turned them off manually, Staff Sergeant."

"Roger that Private. Ma'am?"

"Well it's clear ahead, so let's continue," Gillian said.

"Yes, Ma'am. You heard the Commander, move out."

They ducked back into the corridor. It looked clear. They passed the large room where the debris came from. To Gillian, it looked like a mess hall.

"Chow hall," mumbled one of the Marines.

Gillian nodded as she watched the scanner screen.

Chapter 148

Gillian's group made it to the end of the first corridor without further incident. No surprises, just more of the same. Just outside their search area, Gillian found a cross corridor leading to the other corridor they would scan. Gillian kept the scanner running as they followed the corridor.

As they approached the passageway they would be turning into, the two Marines upfront halted. One of them raised his arm, his hand making a fist. Staff Sergeant Glen halted. Gillian and Thesses did also. The Marine with his fist in the air tapped his helmet and Staff Sergeant Glen swiftly moved up to his side. They conferred, the Marine pointing at the deck in front of them. Peeking out and looking up and down the cross passageway, Staff Sergeant Glen waved everyone to him.

As Gillian approached the Staff Sergeant she could see the footprints in the dust on the deck. They went up the corridor they would be going, then came back down past where they were. The footprints didn't look fresh, they had dust settled in them.

"These aren't new, but they aren't that old, Ma'am," Staff Sergeant Glen whispered in her ear.

"Can you tell which set is older?" Gillian asked.

"The one head the way we want to go. Those come out of there are newer by about a couple of hours."

"Thank you, Staff Sergeant. It would appear someone went exploring. Thesses, could these be one of your people?"

"Hmmm... " Thesses hummed while she looked at the boot print. "No, these look like your boots, Gillian."

"They do at that. So, someone from our group came this way. Staff Sergeant?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Looks like."

Gillian looked at Staff Sergeant Glen. Then shook her head.

"Let's go, Staff Sergeant, times a wastin'."

"Yes, Ma'am," Glen said, using hand signals to move his Marines out.

Once again they were in single file. Gillian was looking down at her scanner. They were fast approaching the blockage in this corridor and would have to find a way around. Gillian watched the screen on her scanner looking for a side corridor or a set of rooms as they used on the other side of this deck. Then they were in the large room with all the flotsam pushed against the only exit. The footsteps stopped, then led out of the room. Gillian moved around until she found what she was looking for. A way to another short corridor, then out of the area they were scanning.

"Staff Sergeant, that way," Gillian told him pointing to the door.

"Right," he responded making hand signals to his two point men.

They went to the door, pulled it open quietly and peeked out. Then moved out and to the right. Glen went next, followed by Gillian, then Thesses and the man on rear guard. It was a fairly short walk to the cross corridor. Glen had his men go back toward the passageway that was blocked, just so Gillian could get a good read on the scanner. The jumble of stuff from the blockage had tumbled out into the cross corridor almost blocking their way.

"Stairs, here," Gillian said pointing to a doorway to their left. "We go up."

The two point Marines entered the stairwell and headed silently up to the next deck. They waited at the doorway on deck 56 for everyone to gather there. Opening the door slowly they looked out. They exited one following the other quickly. One went right the other left. When Gillian stepped through the doorway she was surprised that there was no blockage in the passageway in front of her. She could actually see far down the passageway. She looked at her scanner, not a blip stirred. She signaled for everyone to head down the passageway.

"Well, that was quick," Gillian said softly as they came out on the cross corridor. "Over to the other side."

Glen nodded and pointed to the other passage. His two point men headed out. The other passageway was clear at this end as the team headed down toward the other end. All the while, Gillian heard her squadron members reporting in as they finished their area scans. Cass was also telling her what was happening with the other teams.

Then there were six blips on her scanner. She snapped her fingers then held her hand up with a fist, just like the Marines had done. Staff Sergeant Glen was next to her instantly. Gillian pointed at her scanner screen. The blips were at the extreme edge of the range of the scanner.

"What do you think?" Gillian asked Glen.

"I don't know Ma'am. Could be a group of Marines or scientists."

"True. They must have come in the other way," Gillian said looking around on the deck for footprints. "Let's proceed cautiously, Staff Sergeant."

"That would be best." Glen nodded and went up to his point men.

They moved out silently, hugging the corridor walls as they went. Glen followed them, also hugging the walls. Gillian mimicked Glen as did Thesses and the Marine coming up the rear. The going was slow. The blips on Gillian's scanner came closer. Soon they could all hear the men talking and laughing. The two up front stopped. Glen stopped but waved Gillian up to him. Thesses and the other Marine stopped where they were.

"Sounds like a party," Glen whispered.

"It does at that. I wonder if they should be here?"

"I doubt it," Glen said listening. "I know two of those Marines and they are supposed to be on duty in the engine room."

"I think we can get a little closer," Gillian told him. "Let's see what they are up to."

"Right."

Chapter 149

Glen went to his two point men. They moved out even slower. It would seem the six men ahead were in the mess hall ahead, off to one side. As the two Marines in front came to the entrance to the mess area they halted. Gillian could hear the men in the room clearly now.

"What a find. This is a hell of a lot better than that swill on the ship."

"It sure is."

"Hey, Lieutenant, when are those Navy swabs doing the walkthrough here?"

"Tomorrow sometime. Don't worry, you're with me, Sergeant."

"I'm not worried, just wanted to know."

Gillian stood up and walked around the point Marines. Glen was right on her heels. The six men in the mess area fell silent as she came into view.

"You're at attention," Glen yelled.

"Shut up Staff Sergeant," the Lieutenant shouted.

"No, you shut up Lieutenant," Gillian said softly.

The Lieutenant finally looked up at her, he had been reading something. His face turned white as a freshly laundered sheet. He just sat there, unable to move.

"You're at attention Lieutenant," Staff Sergeant Glen said once more.

His brain finally kicked into gear. He almost jumped up from his chair and stood at attention.

"Staff Sergeant, get their names and units. You are all on report. Drinking on duty."

Several of the men shook as they stood at attention.

"Yes, Ma'am. Name Lieutenant?"

Staff Sergeant Glen went to each man, asked his name and recorded it on his port-a-pad. All the while, Cass was recording the scene from Gillian's helmet cam, along with the Staff Sergeant's cam.

"Cass, where is Major Owens?" Gillian asked her ship.

"He is in the shuttle bay."

"Would you please advise him that six of his Marines will be presenting themselves for discipline shortly."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Commander, is all this really necessary?" the Lieutenant asked his voice squeaky with nervous tension.

"Yes, it is. Now get your men in line and quick march to the shuttle bay, Lieutenant."

"But,... "

"Now, Lieutenant," Gillian said sternly. "That's an order Lieutenant."

"Shit! Get your asses in line," he shouted at the men.

"Oh and don't think you'll talk your way out of this by telling the Major you discovered these men, a full video record has just been sent to him."

The Lieutenants shoulders sagged.

"All right you men, quick march... "

The line of Marines moved out toward the stairway. Gillian just shook her head.

"Ma'am, I have Major Owens on the line," Cass told her.

"Hello, Major," Gillian said.

"Commander, I hear you have found some wayward men of mine?"

"Yes, sir. They are on their way to the shuttle bay to report to you, sir."

"Thank you Commander Saraid, I'll be waiting for them."

"Yes sir," Gillian said, "see you later."

"Later Gillian."

"Connection terminated," Cass said.

"Forward all my sensor data and the recordings to the Major, Cass."

"I have, Ma'am."

"Good girl."

"All right Staff Sergeant, let's finish this," Gillian said.

"Yes, Ma'am," Glen said pointing to his men to move out.

The group went as far as the stairs. Staff Sergeant Glen turned toward Gillian.

"We wait here. The other groups are almost done. It seems our AWOL Marines were the only surprise."

"Yes, Ma'am," Glen said frowning.

"What's the matter Staff Sergeant? Didn't I handle that correctly?"

"You did, Ma'am. It's just two of those men know better and now they may have fucked up their careers."

"Yes they may have, but they are adults and are supposed to be Marines."

"Yes Ma'am," Glenn said still frowning.

Gillian leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. Thesses sat down beside her. They looked at each other and chuckled. Twenty minutes later the last scanner group was reporting they were finished.

"To the Elevator," Gillian said climbing to her feet.

The point Marines moved out ahead of everyone. Gillian helped Thesses to her feet and they both fell in behind Staff Sergeant Glen. They waited at the elevator until all the other teams had returned to the shuttle bay.

"It would have been quicker for us to take the stairs," Thesses growled as the empty car arrived.

Gillian chuckled as she stepped in. The rest of the team followed her. They were down in the shuttle bay in next to no time.

"Well, I'll be leaving you now. If you would call me when the completed scans have been incorporated into the model I would appreciate it," Thesses said.

"I will Thesses, I will... or should I say, Cass will," Gillian said smiling at Thesses.

Thesses smiled back as she headed back to the elevator.

"Staff Sergeant, you and your men are dismissed. Thank you for keeping watch over us."

"You are welcome, Ma'am," Staff Sergeant Glen said, snapping a salute.

Gillian saluted him back. He and his men turned and left.

"You guys are dismissed too," Gillian told her pilots.

As they all turned and headed for their ships, Gillian did the same.

In her ship, Gillian was relaxing after a hot shower. She was dressed in sweats and had a towel wrapped around her head. Sitting in her command chair she read those documents Cass had marked for her attention. As she read a particularly lengthy and boring one, the screen flashed with a red bar across the top of the screen with urgent repeated. She tapped the bar with her finger and a document opened.

It was a report about the six Marines she and her group had found. It was from Major Owens. He wanted her to sign and return the document as soon as possible. She read the charges and then the disposition of those charges against each man. She read how the Lieutenant would be demoted to Corporal and lose six months pay, along with being transferred out of the unit on return to Earth. The rest of the men would be demoted a rank and lose three months pay. Shaking her head she signed the document and hit send, returning it to Major Owens.

"Cass?"

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Did I do the right thing?"

"Did you read the attachment?"

"No."

"Read it," Cass told her opening the attachment on the screen.

It was from Staff Sergeant Glen. It wasn't long, but he praised Gillian for the way she handled the incident. He then went on to beg forgiveness for the two men he was worried about asking the Major not to drum them out of the service. There was no reply from Laff to the attachment, yet he answered Glen's request through his act of discipline.

"You can close it, Cass. And file it under eyes only."

"Done, Ma'am."

"Thank you."

It was still early, but Gillian was extremely tired. She pulled the towel from her head and went to bed.

Chapter 150

The next day, Gillian stood waiting for Thesses at the foot of Caster's stairs. They were going to Warrior to talk about Progenitor. The scans had been incorporated into the holographic model and it was time for everyone concerned to see it and discuss the plan for moving the great ship. Thesses stepped off the elevator followed by Brela. Gillian raised her eyebrows. Thesses frowned and shook her head. Brela smiled at Gillian as she followed her mother up the stairs into Cass. Gillian frowned. Looking at her squadron, she raised her hand and pumped it up and down, before climbing the stairs into her ship.

"Cass, take us to Warrior, please," Gillian said as she made her way to her pilot's chair.

She found Brela sitting there. All the consoles were dark. Out the port, Gillian watched as the ship silently moved toward the shuttle bay lock.

"If you don't get out of my chair I will take you over my knee and tan your hide," Gillian growled at Brela.

"You better not... "

Gillian had a fist full of Brela's hair and was pulling her out of the chair. The girl was screaming her pain. Thesses was smiling as she stood back out of the way.

"Mother!" Brela screamed.

Brela was now on the floor with Gillian's knee in her back. Gillian's hand smacked against Brela's almost bare bottom, leaving a bright red handprint. Gillian hit her again and again. Ten times in all. She slowly rose looking down at Brela.

"Didn't I tell you, daughter?" Thesses asked.

"You did," Brela replied rubbing her bottom as she slowly stood up.

"Then go over there and sit down... "

"I can't my ass hurts!"

"Then go over there and stand silently."

Gillian didn't even bother to get into her chair. She could see that Cass was just entering the upper bay of Warrior One. As the ship settled to the deck, Brela rushed to the hatch, pulling on the handle.

"Brela!," Thesses shouted.

Brela stood back from the hatch. Gillian stepped up and gently pulled on the handle.

"Cass will only let certain people open her hatch," Gillian said.

"And you will never be one of them, Brela," Cass told her.

"You're a ship! You're supposed to follow human orders... "

"I follow only one human's orders, my Captains," Cass said softly.

Brela stomped her foot on the deck. Thesses smacked her on the rump. Brela cried out. Gillian let Thesses ahead of her, then followed her down the stairs. Brela came up the rear. At the bottom of the stairs, Gillian looked around.

"Corporal!" she shouted at a female Marine not far from her.

The corporal hurried over to where Gillian was waiting.

"Corporal, I am Lieutenant Commander Gillian Saraid, I need you to watch this child until we return... "

"I'm going with... "

"You are not!" Gillian shouted at Brela. Then in a more normal voice, "Keep her here. If she gives you any trouble you have her mother's permission to spank her. Are your orders clear Corporal?"

"Yes Ma'am, crystal," the Corporal answered as she snapped a salute. "And a good day to you First Princes."

"Thesses, my dear. If she requires a spanking, make it good and hard."

"I will Ma'am... Thesses," the corporal answered.

"Good. And you," Thesses turned on her daughter, "if you don't behave I will beat you to an inch of your life, you hear me?"

"I hear you, momma," Brela said a frown on her face.

Gillian and Thesses walked away. The Corporal grabbed Brela's arm as she tried to follow. Then there were three more Marines helping the Corporal carry Brela away. Thesses ignored her screams. Gillian just smiled as she walked out of the shuttle bay.

It only took them a couple of minutes to make it to the auditorium in which the meeting was to be held. Admiral Nichols was already there, sitting at a long table on the stage. When he saw Thesses and Gillian, he waved them both up to the table. Gillian found her name on a card one seat away from Admiral Nichols right. Thesses was between the Admiral and Gillian.

"Welcome First Princess," Ezra said in way of greeting.

"Thesses, Admiral."

"Ezra, Thesses."

"Very well, Ezra."

"Gillian," Ezra said nodding his head at her.

"Sir," she replied nodding back.

"I would like to personally compliment you and your squadron on the work you did to put the data together for this presentation."

"Thank you, sir," Gillian replied.

"I hope you're up for the presentation?"

"I am, sir. I have been thoroughly briefed by Caster and Warrior. They are the ones that put the data together from all our scans, sir."

"The engineers spent the night going over the structural data to provide their recommendation today."

"Any idea what those will be?" Thesses queried softly.

"Yes, but if you can wait, the engineers are anxious to give you that information."

"Of course, Ezra." Thesses smiled, he had just told her what the results were without saying a word about them. After all, what man or woman would be anxious to give someone else bad news.

Gillian's squadron slowly entered the auditorium. Gillian waved them down front. They smiled at Thesses and saluted Ezra. He saluted back from his seat as they sat down. Soon there were more people filtering into not only to fill the auditorium seats but the seats at the table on stage. Commander Connor MacDonald was now sitting to the right of Gillian, his assistant Sean O'Conner on his right. Soon the room was filled to capacity with more people still wanting to enter.

Chapter 151

"Attention," Admiral Nichols said, standing up. "I said attention!" He had to yell to be heard.

Gillian whispered into her shoulder mic. She touched Ezra's sleeve. The loudspeakers squealed loudly. When they stopped, you could have heard a pin drop.

"That's better," Ezra said, his voice now echoing from the speakers in the room. Smiling he continued, "Attention. If you are in this room without an invitation, leave. Now."

Ezra waited. No one moved.

"If you don't have an invitation Warrior will know about it. She can see who is in here and if she sent you an invite. Now if you don't have an invite, leave. Or I can have her call your name and where you are seated then have the Master-at-Arms remove you."

There was a rush to the door. Laughter rippled around the room until they saw Ezra's face. Then there was a lot of coughing.

"If you are in the hall and have an invite, come in, grab a seat. If you are in the hall looking to see if there are empty seats, leave, there aren't. Even if there are, there aren't. Clear?"

The passageway cleared quickly as those with invitations found seats and those without left. There were actually quite a lot of empty seats. Ezra remained standing as everyone settled down. When they were all seated and looking up at him, he cleared his throat and began to speak.