Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 07

She continued reading until she was done and done with her breakfast. Getting up she slipped the dishes in the sink and washed her hands. Opening the wardrobe, she pulled out a clean singlet, zipped it up, looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. She liked the way she looked in her uniform.

"They are here, Ma'am," Cass said softly.

"Thank you, dear."

Gillian pulled on the hatch handle, stepped out and joined her command on the deck. Her team was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Stopping in front of them she looked them over. They all had backpacks on. One just like it dropped out of Caster, just behind her. She smiled, turned and picked it up.

"Seal up Cass," Gillian told her ship.

"Aye, aye, Ma'am."

"Right face," she said to her team. They turned to their right.

Gillian walked to the head of the line. Michelle was there. Turning she saw that Bridget had rear guard. Of course, the only weapons they had were hand stunners, but they would be effective against anyone or anything they might encounter.

"Forward march," Gillian yelled as she stepped off with the left foot.

They were headed exactly where they should be going, directly at the elevators. It took only a few seconds.

"Squadron, halt," Gillian yelled. "Fallout."

"Gee, that was fun," Michelle said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

One of the Marines on duty smiled at her comment. "I didn't know the Navy knew how to march. Impressive. Very impressive," he said.

"Thank you... " Michelle hesitated squinting to see his rank. "... Sergeant, thank you very much. You should be at attention!" Michelle growled.

The two Marines snapped to attention and saluted. Michelle stepped over to them looked them over and smiled. "Very nice. Very nice, indeed. Stand easy." They did.

Michelle joined the rest of the team in the elevator. As the doors closed, they all chuckled loudly. The two Marines were laughing as the elevator whisked them away.

Gillian had pressed level nineteen. It only took about ten seconds to get there.

"Keep the noise down as we go. No laughing and giggling. Clear?" Gillian said.

"Clear, Ma'am," Bridget said, giving Michelle a swat on the ass.

"Crystal," Michelle answered softly.

"Good, let's go." Gillian led off down the corridor toward Thesses village.

They could hear the people long before they saw them. Thesses crowd wasn't being quiet. In fact, they were quite a bit louder than usual. When Gillian turned the last corner she realized why. There were at least three groups here, maybe more. Gillian held up her hand as she stopped. Her squad stopped. They all stood watching the chaos that was ensuing in the large open space before them. Then Thesses came out of a room chasing three little boys, a pot in her hand. All were laughing. The boys and Thesses. As she turned to return to the room, she spotted Gillian. Smiling she came over to them.

"That's right, today is the day," Thesses said.

"Yes, it is. In four hours we will be jumping out of here on the way home."

"And we had a meeting... "

"Yes. But take your time... "

"No. No, I was just fooling around with the boys."

"With a pot?" Gillian asked.

"Sometimes they need a little swat on the butt to behave themselves. Never hurt me."

"Well, we need to get sorted out who is going with which bunch."

"They are all here. Only four days, we can do that with them all here. This place is the biggest, besides the forest, of them all. So, you can all stay here."

"Oh. Oh. Oh, but we have Marines going to... "

"They're here too," Thesses said, smiling.

"Who is in charge of them?" Gillian asked.

"That nice Sergeant Glen."

"STAFF SERGEANT GLEN, REPORT!" Gillian shouts at the top of her lungs.

There was a sudden lowering of decibels. Far across the large room, Gillian heard, "Oh crap! Coming Ma'am."

"Holy shit, girl," Michelle whispered while she rubbed her ears.

Gillian chuckled, the rest of her team stifled a laugh when she glared at them. Thesses was suppressing a laugh with her hand. Glen appeared, shirt unbuttoned, equipment vest askew, rifle hanging off his shoulder. Gillian just stood there looking at him.

"I'm sorry... the kids... Ma'am, Staff Sergeant Glen reporting as ordered." He stood there stiff as a board. He couldn't salute because his rifle was pulling his right arm down. Gillian looked up and down, then started laughing. She stopped quickly and glared at everyone else. They remained silent.

"Well, Staff Sergeant isn't this one fine mess?" Gillian said softly.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Well, finish dressing, I'll wait."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Glen lowered his rifle to the floor between his feet. Buttoned up his shirt, tucked it into his pants, pulled his vest on and fastened it. Only then did he pick up his rifle and sling it over his left shoulder. Snapping to attention, he saluted Gillian smartly.

"Sorry, Ma'am." Gillian nodded at him and he lowered his hand.

"How many men do you have with you?"

"Twenty-five, Ma'am."

"How many are on guard duty?"

"I have two in each passageway leading in... hey, how did you get past them?"

"There was no one in the passageway we came in from," Gillian told him.

"Which corridor did you come down?"

"This one here," Gillian said as she turned and pointed.

"Shit. Carlson and Brand. If you'll excuse me a moment, Ma'am?"

"Go, do," Gillian said. "Ladies, gentlemen, spread out. Find the Marines in the corridors. See that no one leaves. Now move." Gillian clapped her hands to get them moving. She turned to Thesses and smiled.

"Now for some good news," she told her.

"What kind of good news?"

"It may only take a day to get back to Earth."

"What?"

"We'll be orbiting Earth by about this time tomorrow."

"How is that possible, when it took you four days to get here?

"Good question. I don't have a coherent answer for that just yet, but by the time you make planetfall, I will."

"Probably no need as we'll be home and I won't care," Thesses said winking at her.

Chapter 159

Gillian was laughing as Staff Sergeant Glen appeared at her side. She turned, still chuckling and saw two Marines standing at attention behind him. She sobered quickly.

"Report Staff Sergeant!" Gillian ordered.

"Well, Ma'am, it seems Sergeant Collins and Lance Corporal Corley say they heard a noise down one of the side passages and went to check it out, Ma'am."

"Did they find anything, Staff Sergeant?"

"No, Ma'am, they didn't."

"Thesses, are all your people accounted for?"

"Oh, I don't know. Everyone came here, but some might be trying to find an empty cabin."

"Hmmm." Gillian pulled out the portable scanner.

"Damn, why didn't I think of that?" Glen growled. He pulled one out of his thigh pocket.

Gillian's was powered up first. A few seconds later, she saw the two dots about where the two Marines said they heard the sound. Glen grunted when his showed the same thing.

"Do we go get them, Ma'am?" Glen asked.

"Go over there with Corley and wait until they come out looking for food. Then bring them back here."

"Of course, Ma'am. Sergeant Collins, get Private Mara and get back on station. Come on Corporal," Glen finished heading in the direction of the two dots on his scanner.

"Can you tell who it is?" Thesses asked.

"No. Just that it's two people. One female, one male."

"Horny youngsters will be the doom of us all."

Gillian chuckled as Thesses turned toward the three boys who had been waiting for her just out of earshot.

"Commander Saraid?" Admiral Nichols voice sounded from her shoulder comm.

"Yes, sir?"

"Everything set down there?"

"Yes, sir?"

"I'm sending a detail of Marines to the bridge to keep unwanted personnel out. Would you meet them and brief them?"

"Of course, sir?"

"Nichols, out."

"Lieutenant Carlin!" Gillian shouted.

"On my way, Ma'am," Bridget answered from across the room.

Then Gillian spotted her weaving her way through the people.

"Reporting as ordered, Ma'am." Bridget stood at attention holding her salute.

"At ease," Gillian told her returning her salute. "I have to go up to the bridge to brief a squad of Marines. Take over here until I return. I have Glen out with his Lance waiting for some young people to finish... never mind, he'll be back shortly. Just try and make sure everyone stays put."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Gillian nodded, turned and headed back toward the elevator. She passed the two Marines in the passage, told them she would be back in half an hour and kept walking. She arrived at the elevator in ten minutes. She pushed the up button and waited. Within seconds the doors slid open. The car was packed with Marines. She put her hand on the door edge to hold them open.

"Out," she told them, keeping the doors from closing.

The all stepped out. All six of them.

"Sergeant, you and two men stay here. I'll take the others up and send the car back down. Clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Are you Commander Saraid?" he asked.

"I am. Three of you in the car. Move."

Three of the Marines rushed into the car, followed closely by Gillian. She felt a little cramped in there with the three big, burly Marines. She could feel their eyes on her ass in the skin tight singlet.

"Get a good look boys, it's for damn sure you'll never see it again. I hear there are openings for security at the ice mines on Ganymede."

She felt them avert their eyes and stand at attention. The car slowed and stopped. The doors opened and Gillian stepped out holding the doors open.

"Come on, out." The three men scrambled out. "Stand at attention, face the bridge."

They did as they were told. Gillian ducked back into the car and press the deck number 19, then jerk back out and let the doors close. Gillian leaned against the wall looking the three up and down. Soon the door opened again and the Sergeant stepped out and groaned.

"What did they do?" he asked.

"Nothing."

"Right." the Sergeant said looking at his men.

"This way Sergeant. Have your men follow us." Gillian stepped off toward the bridge.

The Sergeant rushed to follow her, waving at his men to follow him. They made it to the bridge in less than a minute.

"Wait here," Gillian told them while she ducked inside.

"Miss Gillian," Candle said with a smile.

"Candle. Everything ready to go?" Gillian asked.

"Of course."

"Good. Have you talked with Fain and Caster about the speed variable?"

"I have. A bit of a problem with that. The controls here, don't have that ability. So, we are going to tie Castor into the hyperdrive system."

"Cass?" Gillian said.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Are you okay with what they will be doing?"

"I am. I will give it all of my attention at the beginning and end of the jumps. Candle will cue me."

"Good. See you when we get home."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Candle, I'll be briefing the Marine that will be keeping watch out in the corridor. Anything you want me to tell them?"

"No, Miss Gillian. Well, yes, don't look in here."

"I will, Candle."

Candle nodded at Gillian. She turned and left the bridge, pushing the door closed behind her. She knew Candle would lock it from inside. She turned to the Marines.

"Now for you lot. Listen up. I suppose you all heard about what happened the last jump?"

They all nodded but didn't say anything.

"We don't want that repeated, so I and my squadron with two squads of Marines are riding heard on the group downstairs. But if any of them get away and want to take a look into the bridge it's your job to turn them away. That's all you do, turn the back the way they came. If they want to go somewhere else and look out, that's up to them, but they all saw what happened to Brela."

"Was that her name?" the Sergeant asked.

"It is her name. She still lives, in cold sleep."

"Did you know her, Ma'am?"

"I did. She was the daughter of a good friend."

"Our condolences, Ma'am."

"Thank you, Sergeant." These Marines just dug themselves out of a hole. "Now, if you need anything, give me a call." Gillian pointed at her comm unit.

"We will, but we brought all we'll need with us, Ma'am."

"Okay, I don't care how you split up the work, you know best, but I might be up here again and I don't want to find you're all slacking off. Got it?"

"Got it. How long is it going to take to get home? No, one would tell us, Ma'am."

"Ten to twelve hours."

"That quick. Thank you, Ma'am."

"I better not hear about you winning some betting pool, Sergeant."

"No, Ma'am."

Gillian winked at him, turned and went to the elevator. Ten minutes later she was back where she was supposed to be.

Chapter 160

"All hands, prepare for jump to hyperspace," Candles voice emanated from the speaks all over the ship.

The jump was right on time. Everyone was sitting down in anticipation of the jump now.

"Ten minutes, Ma'am," Cass whispered.

"Thank you, dear. Now concentrate on what you have to do, please."

"Of course, Ma'am." Gillian could have sworn she heard a chuckle in that last from Cass.

"Ten minutes everyone," Gillian called out.

The minutes ticked by, slowly. There was almost complete silence. Some people were whispering to each other. Others were just staring straight ahead. Gillian was trying to watch everyone. She did notice that her people were doing the same thing.

"Five minutes to jump." Candle was keeping everyone informed.

Then Michelle was plopping down next to her.

"Pretty intense, isn't it?"

"For them," Gillian replied.

"That's what I meant."

"I know. It's funny. We jump all the time, but we're mostly in control. The only times were not is when we are in someone else's ship."

"True. But we know."

"Yes. We know."

"Two minutes to jump."

"Ten hours?"

"Yep. Ten hours. Or twelve. Or somewhere in between."

Both women sat silently looking out over the people with them. The Marines were all at their post, making sure no one wandered off. The rest of the squadron was interspersed with the Progens, talking and watching. There was an excitement running through them as the minutes ticked by.

"One minute to jump."

"Will he give us a countdown?" Michelle asked.

"Yes, from ten."

Time passed. The undercurrent of excitement grew.

"Thirty seconds to jump."

No one spoke. Everyone was silent.

"Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, jump."

For just a split second, Gillian could have sworn that she was in the bulkhead behind her, then she wasn't. His stomach was queasy for just a moment. She shook her head and looked around the big room.

"Everyone all right down there," Candle asked.

Gillian keyed her comm unit, "We are Candle. Thank you for checking on us."

"You're welcome Miss Gillian."

"Ooh, Miss Gillian," Michelle coed.

"Oh, do shut up," Gillian told her getting up and stretching.

Michelle stood up too. The two women stood there looking about.

"How many jumps will be making?" Michelle asked.

"Oh, now you're interested?" Gillian quipped.

Michelle elbowed Gillian in the ribs softly.

"Seven, but the last one will be a short one."

"What! I had to make twenty-seven on the way out here."

"You wouldn't know. Chaser now knows some tricks she didn't know when she came out here."

"Coming out here was so boring."

"Let's go find Glen and make the rounds."

Gillian and Michelle walked around the room looking for the Staff Sergeant. When they found him the three of them made the rounds to all the posts the Staff Sergeant had established. He had enough men to put four to a post. That way two could rest, while the other two kept the people from leaving. He also had several left over to put in with the people so they could see the men who would protect them if needed.

Back at the main room, Glen went to join his men, while Michelle and Gillian found a semi-private spot and sat looking out over all the Progens. Gillian was a little tired and closed her eyes for just a minute.

"Gilly, time to get up dear," Michelle's voice penetrated the darkness.

"What?"

"It's time to get up. You have been asleep for four hours. We should make another round with Glen, dear."

"Right. Four hours? Why did you let me sleep so long?" Gillian asked.

"Because you needed it. What have you been doing with your time?"

"Sleeping, every chance I get."

"You need to see a doctor then," Michelle growled at her friend and superior.

"After we're done with this," Gillian grunted getting to her feet. "Where's Glen?"

"Over this way, waiting for us." Michelle pointed to her left. Gillian took the lead as she spotted the Staff Sergeant.

"Thank you, Michy."

"You're welcome, Gilly." Michelle giggled as she followed Gillian who frowned at her over her shoulder.

"Ready, Commander?" Glen asked as they stopped in front of him.

"Yes, let's go. I don't expect to find anything, but there are those who were supporters of Brela."

"Of course Ma'am," Staff Sergeant Glen replied leading the way.

Once again they made the rounds. It was not a long process but Glen stopped at each post and talked for a while with his men. Gillian also listened and talked to them. Michelle just stood by, looking the men over and looking up and down the corridors. They were back in the main room in about an hour. Most people were settled down for the night. There were about six hours left in hyperspace. The ships were dropping out just outside the solar system. Candle was to then make a small jump to near-Earth orbit with Caster's help. Warrior and Tór would make the same small jump, once Progenitor was safely in orbit. So far things had been going smoothly.

"Staff Sergeant, have you gotten any sleep?" Gillian asked him before they parted.

"No Ma'am, I'm fine though."

"It's six hours until normal space, get four hours, that's an order. Send your second in command to me for orders. Clear?" Gillian looked into the Staff Sergeant's eyes.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll send Sergeant Sams right over." He saluted, turned and left.

"Thank you... "

"He is not pleased," Michelle said.

"He'll get over it. Ah, Sergeant Sams."

"Sergeant Sams, reporting as ordered, Ma'am." Sams stood there holding her salute.

"At ease Beth," Gillian said.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Staff Sergeant Glen has been ordered to sleep for four hours, you are to see that he does and to make sure everything else with the Marines is taken care of. If you have to delegate, do so, but Glen is to sleep. Understand, Sergeant?"

"Yes, Ma'am, Staff Sergeant Glen is to get four hours sleep and not be bothered with anything until such time the four hours is up."

"Exactly. If something comes up, come get me or Lieutenant Carlin. Clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Go. Go take care of your men."

"Aye, aye, Ma'am." Sams, snapped a saluted and waited to Gillian to respond. Gillian snapped to attention and returned the salute. Sams smiled at her, turned and left.

"Not even going to ask?" Gillian asked Michelle.

"Nope. You are a born leader. We all said so back in flight school."

"When?"

"Oh, we never told you. We didn't want your head to get bigger than it was already."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. You were smart. You were wise. Even as a young pup you knew things that baffled the instructors. The only problem was you were too wrapped up in trying to stay apart to notice. This mission has you finally coming out of your shell and enjoying life."

"But I enjoyed my life. I am enjoying my life. I love being a scout ship pilot... "

"I know sweetie, but there is more to life than scout ship pilot, let me tell you. But you have already found that out. You like being in charge, don't you?"

Gillian looked at Michelle in the dim light in the side corridor they had drifted too. She cocked her head like she had seen a wolf do once when she was trying to talk the animal out of killing her. She nodded, once.