Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 07

"Helm, aye."

The speed of the big ship slowed and they were matching the exact speed of Progenitor with Caster on their port side.

"Comms, open a channel to Caster." Ezra wanted to talk to her. "Secure the channel."

"Comms, aye. Channel open and secure."

"Gillian?" Ezra queried.

"Standing by Admiral." Her voice sounded strange over the secure comm channel.

"Report Lieutenant."

"Yes, sir. Most of the ship's upper surface is pocked with small to medium meteor holes. Sensors haven't determined how deep they go. There are people alive and in cold sleep. Cass has a number of two thousand one hundred and fifty-seven in cold sleep. The ten people who are not in cold sleep have livestock and companion animals with them. As well as a fairly large greenhouse filled with plantings. Would you like to know what they have planted, sir."

"No, not now. What else?"

"The engines are basically in idle mode, probably set by the last person in the control room."

"You saw into the control room?"

"Yes. There are two, what's left of a body after a century or so, bodies. One in the command chair and the other in the corridor just outside the bridge."

Silence filled the Caster. Ezra was mulling over, not only the information but what should be done next.

"Gillian, was the shuttle bay intact?"

"Wait one, please." The sound didn't cut off Ezra could still hear Gillian. "Cass was the shuttle bay intact?"

"Unknown, we didn't go below the bridge, nor did I scan in that direction. It will be hard to tell from this position."

"All right, thanks. Oh shit. Sorry Admiral... "

"Who was that speaking?" Ezra cut her off.

"My ships AI, sir."

"Ships AI? Candle?"

"Sir?" Candle responded as he walked over to the Admiral.

"Do the scout ship AI's have the capability to talk?"

"All the ships AI's have that capability."

"All?"

"Yes, sir."

"Does Warrior talk?"

"She does to me, sir."

"Really?"

"Lieutenant Saraid, sir."

"Yes, of course. Another time, soon."

"Yes, sir."

"Gillian, go take a look at the shuttle bay."

"Aye, aye, sir. Cass, get us there."

The small scout ship moved slowly away headed toward the bow of the great ship.

"Comms closed."

"Well, that should cause a stir in the fleet."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"You don't think so?"

"Some, but not the enthusiasm you show Ma'am."

"Really?"

"Yes, they are after all mostly men."

Gillian laughed at Cass' statement. Then her face became serious knowing Cass was correct in her assessment.

"We're there," Cass said.

Gillian looked out her port. The bay doors were intact. The ships were all lined up in neat rows on the bay floor. Gillian could see the tie downs keeping them in position. There were no bodies in sight.

"Is there an atmosphere in there Cass?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Musty, but breathable."

"Is there a way to recycle it?" Gillian asked.

"Yes, Ma'am. Should I open a channel to Warrior?"

"Yes, secure it."

"Channel open."

Ezra heard Gillian's AI tell her the channel was open.

"Admiral?"

"Report."

"Sir. The shuttle bay is secure. There is an atmosphere, old, but breathable. Cass says there is a way to recycle the old air."

"Are the shuttles intact?"

"Affirmative. There are more than just shuttles in there."

"What?"

"There are fighters and two large transport ships, along with the two dozen or so shuttles."

"How many fighters?"

"Forty-eight, sir." That was the AI.

"Thank you, Cass. Did you copy that Admiral?"

"I did. Thank you, Cass."

"You're welcome, Admiral."

"Return to Warrior Gillian, we have some planning to do."

"Aye, aye, sir. Cass, get us there please."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Chapter 124

Her mind was screaming. It was telling her to run and hide. Run. Run. Run. Gillian took a deep breath, shivered and sat quietly next to Admiral Nichols on the dais. They were in the largest of the theaters on Warrior One. Admiral Nichols, Gillian, Commander Nolan Tóla, Captain Mealla Bree of the Tór, Major Lafferty Owens, the commander of the Marine contingent aboard Warrior One.

Out in the seats of the theater were crew members and officers from both ships. The two Marine contingents from the two ships sat apart from the others. Captain Bree sat on the other side of Admiral Nichols. They were whispering together. Probably hatching new feats of daring do for Gillian and her ship. Deep down she knew that wasn't true, but at this very moment, her mind was still telling her to run and hide.

After a few more minutes the Admiral stood and went to the podium. The audience stood and snapped to attention. The Admiral shook his head.

"As you were," he shouted. After waiting for the crowd to quiet down, he continued, "Now I know you're all anxious to learn what we found out on the Progenitor. I can tell you there is crew over there that are still alive. I don't know what generation they are, but I can tell you, no one is flying that ship."

A murmur went around the big room. The Admiral held up his hand. The crowd quieted.

"There are also over two thousand people in cold sleep. They may be some of the original crew."

More murmuring filled the auditorium. The Admiral waited. Once silence returned he continued.

"We will be sending a contingent over to the ship to scout and make contact with the awake personnel. We will also be looking at whether the ship is viable to return to Earth or to continue on its mission."

The murmur was louder this time. Everyone wanted to go. Admiral Nichols held up his hand. Everyone shut up.

"I'm sorry to inform you that those going have already been chosen. We will be leaving in the morning. If you are going you will be notified."

A great sigh swept around the room. The Admiral turned and returned to those sitting behind him. They all stood. He smiled, turned to Mealla and took her hand.

"Thank you for coming. Your engineers will be a big help in assessing the ship along with ours. As for the rest of you, thank you for your help. You are free to go. If we need you, you will be notified."

Gillian was of two minds. She desperately wanted to go with, but she really wanted to go alone. That was her way. But recently, she was thinking Admiral Nichols had more for her in mind. It was just a feeling. Feelings which usually, mostly, turned out true.

Gillian didn't head for her quarters, she headed for her ship. She wanted to go over all the sensor data Cass had collected. There was so much of it, she hadn't had a chance to see it all. And Cass was so busy keeping up with the question she hadn't had a chance to go over a good portion of it either. Flopping down in her chair, Gillian flipped the switch which brought everything back online.

"Caster is Operational." The terminal read.

"Cass, have you found anything interest in the sensor logs?"

"Of course, Ma'am."

"Well?"

"I'm sorry to say it has been classified by a higher authority until such time it is not."

"What?"

"Sorry, Ma'am."

"Captains override, Saraid453Georgia."

"Override accepted."

"Tell me who blocked you?"

"The First Officer Commander Phinias Beckett, Ma'am."

"Yikes," Gillian yelped.

"Yes, Ma'am. Yikes."

"Did he know about my override command?"

"He did. He asked. I was obligated to inform him."

"I see."

"Do you?"

"Yes. Now tell me what is so important that they blocked the information from the ship's pilot?"

"My sensor sweeps showed there are more than fifty people awake in the ship."

"What?"

"They didn't show up on the life signs scan because they were deep within the ship in small groups of ten. All have firearms. Some have horses and/or dogs. There seems to be a division of sorts. It's hard to see now that I'm inside Warrior, but she has allowed me the use of her sensors. I didn't tell her they were not up to my standards."

Gillian giggled at the last statement.

"But they are adequate for our purposes."

Gillian giggled again.

"I'm sure Admiral Nichols will be amused by that."

"I would hope to think he wouldn't," Cass replied drily. "Inferior sensors is a serious concern."

Gillian giggled once more as she put her face in her hands.

Chapter 125

"Gillian!" The Admiral's voice was gruff as it rasped over the comm channel.

"Here, sir," Gillian answered.

"Go get some sleep, you'll be going along as my eyes and ears tomorrow. That's an order young lady."

"Yes, sir," she responded.

"Comm channel is closed," Cass told her.

"Thank you. Will you behave, if I let you continue to analyze the data after I leave?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"I need your solemn promise."

"I give it freely and willing to you, Ma'am."

"Thank you. No talking to the other ships until tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Thank you, Cass. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Ma'am."

Gillian was out the hatch and headed for her quarters.

As Gillian entered the conference room, she sought out the Admiral. He was talking with his first at the head of the table. Gillian made her way to him. He looked at her while he answered a question from Commander Beckett.

"Yes Gillian?" he asked.

"Sir, while I was scanning the sensor logs last night before you ordered me to bed, Caster showed me five more groups of ten, awake, crew in different parts of the ship. They are all armed and there seems to be some division among them. She continued to scan them with the help of Warrior One's sensors and found they don't wander far from their bases."

"Warrior One let Caster use its sensors. Is that what you just told me?"

"I did sir."

"Candle?"

"Sir?" Candle said appearing next to the Admiral.

"Did you know about this?"

"I did. I saw no harm. I assumed Lieutenant Saraid was just continuing her earlier work for you, from her ship. The two ships have been talking since Caster came back inside Warrior. Was I mistaken, sir?"

"No. No, of course not. But next time please tell me about it."

"Of course, sir," Candle replied.

"Now you young lady... "

"Sir," Gillian replied.

"Anything else to report?"

"Yes, Admiral," Gillian said taking a K'lar holograph device and setting it on the table in front of the Admiral. "This," she said pressing the button, "is a schematic of the ship. With all compartments without atmosphere and all damage to the outer hull. There is a path from the shuttle bay to all the... "

"I understand Lieutenant, I can read a schematic."

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."

"No need to apologize Lieutenant. Now we need to get this copied to other devices."

"I have ten in my pack, will we need more than that sir?" Gillian asked.

"No, eleven will do. Commander Beckett, take the extra ten and pass them out to... "

"I know who should get one sir," Phinn said holding his hand out to Gillian.

She pulled the ten devices out and handed them to Commander Beckett. He smiled at her, then turned and left.

"So, does Warrior have a copy of that in her gizzards somewhere?"

"She does sir."

"Could you have her display it please?"

"Of course. War-One, please display the Progenitor schematic Caster transferred to you."

"Of course Gillian." A strange female bass voice came from the speakers in the conference room. Everyone there turned and looked at the Admiral. Gillian grabbed her device turning it off. A free floating holograph appeared over the center of the table. Warrior zoomed in until it filled the room. "Big enough, Gillian?"

"It is. It's just fine dear."

A cooing sound could be heard from the speakers.

"Good enough," Ezra said. "How do I change the perspective or the zoom factor?"

"Ask her."

"Really?"

"Yes. You know the structural designation of the ship. So does she."

"What's her name again?"

"Whatever you want it to be. When talking with other ships she uses War-One, but you can choose another if you wish."

Ezra put his face in his hands and scrubbed his face, finally running his fingers through his hair.

"War-One, what would you like your Captain to call you?" Gillian asked.

Everyone in the room was following along with amazed looks on their faces.

"If he wouldn't mind, I like the name Fainche," the ship replied.

"Okay, what does Fainche mean," Ezra asked.

"It's the name of a Celtic war goddess."

"Can I call you Fain for short?"

"Of course Admiral."

Everyone in the room started whispering to each other.

"Knock it off," Ezra yelled.

Everyone shut up and stood looking at him.

"Fain, if you would show us where the groups of the awake crew are, please," Ezra hesitantly asked his ship.

"Of course, Sir."

Six points of light shone brightly. All an equal distance from each other.

"Beckett, Owens, change of plans," Ezra told his first and Marine commander.

Chapter 126

Gillian's mind was screaming at her again, she ignored it as she listened to Major Owens. The change in plan now had Gillian leading a six-man squad, made up of Marines from Warrior One. While Major Owens briefed her, one of the Marines was outfitting her with combat gear. Shock vest, comm-system, sensor helmet.

"Now, if I were you, and I have been, listen to your highest ranking NCO. That would be Staff Sergeant Glen, if he isn't available, Sergeant Sams would be next. But use your own judgment. After all, is said and done, you will be the one responsible. Do you understand Lieutenant?"

"I do Major, I do," Gillian answered, not really all that sure she did. She had never been responsible for anyone but herself and her ship. Now she was going to be responsible for six others. Their lives, their actions, their very being.

"Good. Will they all fit in your ship?"

"What? Yes. Yes, sir. No problem, sir." Her ship, they were letting her use, Cass. She felt a little better.

"Good. You know your assignment. You have the men. Try not to get into trouble."

"No, sir, I'll try not to."

"Glen, Tac2, I'm on Command1."

"Tac2, yes, sir," Glen answered as he set his and then Gillian's comms. "Now, when you want to talk to us, just say Tac2 and tell us what you want us to do. If you need to talk to the Major, say Command1. The Comm-System will switch automatically. Is that clear Lieutenant?"

"Yes Staff Sergeant, thank you."

A Marine Gillian didn't know handed her a pulse rifle. She had trained with one in flight school. There were two in Cass. She had never fired one at another human before. She hoped she didn't have to today.

"Keep the safety on Ma'am," Staff Sergeant Glen told her.

"Right. Safety on."

"Mount up," Major Owens yelled.

Since entering the shuttle bay, Gillian now noticed that a lot of Marines had appeared as if out of thin air. Or she had been so focused that she hadn't noticed them. There were six shuttles with their doors open. Each could carry twenty Marines. But it looked like only fifteen per shuttle were boarding. Staff Sergeant Glen nudged her. She nodded at him and headed for Caster.

At the ladder to the hatch, she turned to the men following her. She looked them over.

"Staff Sergeant, would you introduce the men to me?"

"Of course, Ma'am, my apologies. First, we have Sergeant Sams, then Corporal Phillips, Lance Corporal Johns, Private Boone, and Private Bean, Ma'am."

"Thank you, Staff Sergeant. Men this is Caster. She is a one-man scout. It will be cramped inside, but we won't be in her long. Follow me and fill in where space allows."

Gillian went up the ladder and into her ship. The Marines followed. Staff Sergeant Glen was directing them toward the back of the ship.

"Nice digs," someone commented on their way back.

"Do not touch anything, do you understand Marines?" Staff Sergeant Glen yelled.

"Yes Staff Sergeant," they all replied as one.

Gillian settled into her chair and brought Cass online.

"Time to go, Cass," Gillian told her ship.

"Thrusters online," Cass replied.

"Who's that?" Glen demanded with surprise in his voice.

"That's classified, Staff Sergeant."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"We are first to leave Ma'am," Cass told her.

"Okay, let's go."

The ship rose off the deck and slowly moved to the bay doors and through them out into the emptiness of space. Cass moved slowly across the Progenitor toward the bow of the ship. Gillian suddenly felt Glen leaning over her looking out the port.

"Holy... "

"Yeah, that's what I said the first time I saw her."

"How big Ma'am?"

"Over two thousand meters."

"What's that in miles?"

"Almost a mile and a half."

"That's not that big. I run ten miles a day when I can."

"Here we go," Gillian said as Cass flipped around and began to descend.

"Right," Staff Sergeant Glen said backing away.

"Cass, can you figure the code for the door?" Gillian had just realized why she was flying Caster.

"I'm working on it, Ma'am."

It felt like a long time before the doors started to slide open and Cass moved forward into the bay. Gillian didn't have to direct her once inside, Cass found a spot near the entrance into the ship and parked close. The shuttles followed and parked behind her.

"All right men, let's go... "

"Hold. The bay is a vacuum. It will take a few minutes to refill," Gillian called out.

Of course, they couldn't open the hatch unless Cass let them, but better safe than sorry.

"Yes, Ma'am," Glen said.

"It's safe now Ma'am," Cass told her.

"You heard the lady, we can go now," Gillian said making her way to the door.

Staff Sergeant Glen was trying to open it without success. Gillian tapped him on the shoulder. He scowled at her but moved aside. Gillian pulled on the lever and pulled the hatch open. She held her arm up, blocking Staff Sergeant Glen. Better to get who was in charge out of the way now than under fire later. Glen nodded, letting Gillian go first. She took her time climbing down the ladders five rungs to the consternation of Staff Sergeant Glen. At the foot, she stepped off onto the shuttle bay floor. She immediately noticed she was much lighter. The artificial gravity was dialed down.

"Staff Sergeant, we are in space, yes on a ship, but a ship with compartments without air in them. We do things slowly in space, Staff Sergeant. Plus the artificial gravity is about half of what you're used to. Clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am. You're right of course, Ma'am."

Gillian nodded as the men formed up behind her. She walked toward the door to the interior of the ship.

"Ship1," Gillian said into her comm system.

"Cass here."

"Oh good. Do you think the code that opened the bay doors will be the same to open the doors to the interior of the ship?" Gillian asked.

"It might. 0156734A," Cass said.

"Got it."

Gillian was in front of the door. A keypad was just to her right. She moved to the keypad. There were gauges showing how much air was in the bay and on the other side of the hatchway. She tapped both. Neither moved. They both read twelve pounds of pressure. Nodding, she punched in the code. The red light switched to a yellow light. Gillian waited. There was a pop somewhere inside the wall and the light changed to green. The door slowly slid open. She held up her hand signaling her men to wait. Then Major Owens was beside her.

"Good work Lieutenant. Let my men go, then you, then the rest."

"Yes, sir." Gillian stood aside. Fifteen men flowed past her slowly. The major ducked into line about halfway and disappeared inside. "Staff Sergeant, lead off, Sergeant Sams you have rearguard."

"Yes, Ma'am," they both answered.

Gillian tapped Lance Corporal Johns to go next then she followed him. Sergeant Sams would order the rest behind Gillian. Staff Sergeant Glen was moving slowly down a corridor, behind Major Owens men.

"Tac2," Gillian whispered. She heard the click in her ear as the comm-system switch over to Tac2. "Next right Staff Sergeant."

"Aye, Ma'am," Staff Sergeant Glen's whisper came back.