Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 07

"What did he say?"

"He told me to let you get the council together and I was to handle everything."

"I see. He must have great confidence in you."

"Thank you. Where would you like to meet?"

"Here is just fine. There are enough seats for everyone. Eliot, go, gather the council and only them and their husbands, no other people. If they bring others, they will answer to me."

"You know Brela will not listen and bring all her clan," Eliot responded, a sour look on his face.

"She better listen. She's still not too big for me to take her over my knee. You tell her I said that."

"I will Thesses," Eliot said backing to the doorway.

"Man coming out, let him pass," Staff Sergeant Glen said softly.

"Oh an Irishman," Thesses said surprised.

"Yes ma'am," Glen responded.

"Are you still fighting the UK?"

"No, Ma'am." Glen smiled.

"Thesses, Earth is at peace. The old republics are no more. The Earth has unified into the Federation of Planets."

"The FOP has become a reality? The UN was... "

"Is no more, for a long time now," Gillian spoke up.

"Where is the FOP Headquarters, New York?"

"Dublin, Ma'am," Glen responded.

"Dublin?"

"It was the only city left after the war Ma'am," Glen told her.

"Enough," Gillian said. "Thesses, a lot has changed. Earth lost more than half its population during the war. It was awful. Death and destruction across the planet. When it ended we all had to work together to rebuild. North America is a member of the world government. We chose a different path to live. Most of the rest of the globe wanted to return their part of the world to the way it was before the war. Some succeeded, some didn't. The world community helped everyone with rebuilding. But that was one hundred and fifty years ago. That's when the war ended. It started shortly after Progenitor left."

"My God. How many atomic bombs were used?"

"None."

Thesses sat there mulling over what she had just been told.

"People are starting to move toward you Lieutenant. In groups of two, except for one, all ten people are on their way to you," Admiral Nichols told her.

"Oh dear."

"What is it, my dear?"

"It would seem... "

"Brela!" Thesses shouted.

"Yes ma'am," Gillian replied.

Chapter 131

Major Owens was himself shadowing the ten people headed to the bridge. An eleventh joined them and was in a shouting match with the young woman leading the group. Finally, the eleventh man threw up his hands in disgust and stomped off ahead of the group. It took most of them about two hours to make it to the last ramp leading up to the bridge level. There they encountered a frail looking old woman, yet her voice carried down to where Major Owens was a level down from the ten people they were shadowing.

"Brela!" the old woman shouted.

"What?" the young woman countered, defiance in her voice.

"You and Gavis, get up here. The rest of you go home," the old woman shouted, waving her hand at the other eight people.

"Don't you dare."

"Sergeant, quick march up the ramp, surround the group of eight, " Major Owens whisper.

With hand signals the sergeant got the men moving. The shock on the faces of the ten people told him all he needed to know. He immediately saw who the old woman was yelling at and the man by the young woman's side.

"Sergeant cut these eight out and move them down the ramp. Hold them there until we get this straightened out."

"Aye, sir. You heard the man, get these people down the ramp. Gently, men, gently."

"Who are you," the old woman asked.

"He's with me Thesses," Gillian said coming down the ramp. "Thesses, may I introduce you to Major Owens, the commander of the Marines. Major Owens, Thesses, First Princes of Progenitor." Gillian left it at that. She watched the Major's face as he absorbed the information.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, your highness." The Major almost choked on that last as he bowed.

"No need to be formal Major. Just call me Thesses. What is your first name?"

"Lafferty, but most people call me Laff when I'm not on duty, Ma'am."

"Laff. I like that name, it has character."

Owens smiled at that.

"Now, to you Brela. I'll reserve the right to tan your rear end until later unless you behave inside. You get me?"

"Yes, Momma."

"Good, now get up in the control room and take a seat on the right side of the room."

"Yes, Momma."

"And you down there, go home. Do not hang around up here or I'll have the Marines escort you. You got that Delvin?"

"Yes Ma'am," a tall man answered from the group.

"Sergeant, trail them. Make sure they get to where they should be," Major Owens whispered into his comm mic.

Gillian was watching Thesses, she had heard the Major, but decided there was no harm in what he was doing. Everyone turned to climb the last ramp. Thesses was taking her time. Gillian and Major Owens walked with her.

"Your daughter is... feisty, isn't she?" Gillian asked.

"She's a brat. I should have suffocated her when she was born. She's been a pain in my side ever since."

Gillian just walked, staring straight ahead. She had never heard a mother talk like that. Major Owens grunted, then groaned as he walked behind the two women. They entered the control room, everyone was seated. Brela was on the far right sitting sullenly in the chair, her husband standing beside her. Eliot was waiting by the communication station chair for his wife. Thesses made her way to the Captain's chair.

"Ladies, gentlemen, this skeleton sitting in this chair, is our distant relative. Let us have a moment of silence," Thesses said, bowing her head.

Gillian looked around the room. Everyone had their head bowed, except Brela. She was staring at Gillian. Gillian scowled at her. Brela looked away quickly, bowing her head.

"All right, let's get started. I would like to introduce you to Lieutenant Gillian Saraid of the FOP... "

"FOP!" Brela almost shouted. "What are they trying to pull?"

Gillian just pointed to the forward ports. Brela turned in her seat. Once her eyes focused on Warrior One, she gasped. The big white letters on the side of the ship were clearly visible. Other gasps coming from across the room let Gillian know her simple gesture had impressed more than just Brela.

"Ladies, gentlemen, this skeleton is your King Captain or Captain King the original Captain of this ship."

"My god, how do you know that?" Thesses gasped.

"I have his name tag," Gillian said pulling the patches she collected out of her pocket. The name tag clearly read KING.

"How... how did he wind up here?" Thesses asked softly.

"I don't know that... yet. But I'll bet that information is somewhere in the logs. Now, Thesses, if you don't mind, the reason you are all here."

"No, go ahead, my dear."

"You believe her?" Brela growled.

"I do, child. Now shut up." Brela glared at her mother but didn't say a word.

"This ship has been flying through space for one hundred and ninety-eight years."

Another gasp circled the room.

"We are here to help you. Help you to select a destination or to return to Earth."

"New destination, return to Earth? We have to be almost to Rigel!" Brela cried.

"We aren't, child," Thesses told her. "From what Lieutenant Saraid has shown me, we are thousands of light years in the opposite direction from Rigel and even from Earth. Now be quiet or I will tan your hide, child. Continue please Gillian."

"In all fairness, any habitable planets are in the opposite direction your ship is currently headed. And most of those are already populated with either aliens or human settlements. Plus, there are over two thousand of your ancestors down below in cold sleep."

"We know that, we take turns tending to them," Brela said rather snidely.

"That's good to know, but none of my people have taken a look at them yet. We have doctors who can tell how they are doing inside the capsules."

No one spoke up. Gillian was becoming uncomfortable in her combat gear. She casually started to unzip, unbuckle and pull apart the vest and chaps she wore. Under the equipment, Gillian was wearing her singlet, a tight, form-fitting, black leather uniform. There was a gasp from the men, all the men. She scowled at them all.

"Hussy," Brela growled.

"Shut up Brela! Gillian, why isn't your uniform the same as the Marines?"

"Thesses, is my uniform offensive?"

"No, of course not."

"My uniform is different because I'm not a Marine."

"Uh?"

"I'm in the FOP Navy. I'm a Scout Ship Captain in the Navy," Gillian said calmly.

"Is Major a higher rank than yours?" Thesses asked.

"It is," Gillian replied.

"Then why isn't Major Owens handling this conference?"

Gillian looked at Major Owens. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Because his commanding officer told him not to interfere with me talking to you."

"Who is his commanding officer?" Brela asked. Thesses did not interrupt her.

"Admiral Nichols," Gillian said.

"He's your commanding officer too?" Brela asked.

"Yes."

"Then why isn't he here?"

Chapter 132

"I'm here," Ezra's voice came over the bridge speakers. "And I have every confidence in Lieutenant Saraid, young lady. Brela is it?"

Everyone on the bridge jumped at his voice.

"Y... yes," she answered hesitantly.

"Continue, please Gillian," Thesses said scowling at Brela.

"Thank you, sir. Now what I would suggest you do, you don't have to, but it would be the fastest, go back to Earth. We can get you and the ship there in about... "

"Ten days." Came Ezra's voice. "Six to install the hyperdrive and four to get back to Earth."

"But where would we live?" Thesses asked.

"The North American Directorate would happily take you and give you land to live on. They would even stake you for building materials. And Progenitor should have enough seed and livestock embryo's to help you get started, along with any stock you already have. There is plenty of land, good land, for you to farm or whatever."

"What about Rigel?" Brela cried out.

"Rigel is not an option. There are alien beings living there," Gillian told her.

"Ma'am, I've been on both the planets that would support human life and you wouldn't really want to go there. It's sandy and hot on one and icy and cold on the other. I can show you pictures," Major Owens said. That shut Brela up.

"Is there any other place we could live on Earth?" Thesses asked.

"Sure, pick you landmass," Gillian said.

"I always wanted to spend my last years somewhere in the Caribbean on a pleasant island, with blue water lapping the white sand... "

"There are several large islands with nobody else on them that are also part of the Directorate. And I'm sure with what your status will be, that they will be happy to ship in anything you might need."

"How large an island?" Brela asked her eyes shifting back and forth.

"There is a fairly large island that was abandoned during the war. People never returned there, it's just south of the island of Cuba."

"Cuba! Isn't that still in Communist hands?" Thesses asked, shocked that someone would suggest being anywhere close to that island nation.

"No, it's not. It's part of the Directorate. The Directorate is a democracy and a Charter Member of the World Government and the FOP. And with what you have accomplished, they might even give you the entire island for your group and the people in cold sleep."

"I don't know... we will have to discuss this. In private if you don't mind, dear."

"Of course. Major. Fain?"

"I understand Ma'am," Warrior One answered.

"No... "

The speakers clicked off as Gillian stepped through the hatch. She pushed the hatch until it was almost closed. She didn't want to lock them inside or her and the Marines out.

"What do you think will happen, Lieutenant?" Major Owens asked.

"I haven't a clue," Gillian told him in all honesty.

"Sure were pushing for the Directorate."

"Why not. I think the Directorate is a nice place to live. I also think the prestige points for the Directorate would be tremendous. Plus the Directorate would know that and give them almost anything they wanted."

"You're probably right. The Directorate has been pushing citizens of the world to become citizens of the Directorate. Commercials on all the Tri-V channels."

"Yes, they have had a declining population over the last century since the war. Too many loners, like me," Gillian told him.

Silence filled the corridor, everyone was tired, it had been a long day. They hadn't been in the corridor for more than fifteen minutes when the door was pushed open and Thesses poked her head out.

"Ah, you didn't go far."

"No Ma'am," Gillian said.

"We have decided to call it a night. It's been a long day for us. We will all be going back to our settlements and will resume deliberation in the morning. What is your clock set to?"

"Essentially the same as yours," Gillian said look at her wrist chronometer. "It's now 1900 hours for us."

"And it's 2230 hours for us," Thesses said. "Where will you be tomorrow?"

"I'll be down in my ship. It's in the shuttle bay."

"Ah... yes. Okay, we can... "

"Ship1," Gillian interrupted.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Can you listen for someone to call my name tomorrow all over the ship?"

"I can."

"Good. Thesses, when you are done with your deliberations, just say my full name and the phrase 'Council Meeting Over' and I will come to you. Or the bridge."

"Your ship will hear me?"

"Yes. She will listen for that phrase and that phrase only. I promise."

"Good. We will bid you goodbye then."

The other couples started to file out of the bridge hatch and head to the ramp. Gillian nodded at Thesses as she turned to follow. Gillian let out a sigh as she went back in to get her gear. After she was geared up again she headed for the elevators.

"Might as well take them now that we can," Gillian told Major Owens.

Pressing the down button they waited. The elevator arrived silently. They all got in the car. Gillian pressed the lowest button on the panel. The elevator smoothly started down. It took a few minutes for it to reach the bottom floor. As the doors slid open, they were faced with two Marines, weapons pointed at them. When they saw it was fellow Marines, they quickly lowered their weapons.

"As you were," Major Owens told them.

"Well Major, I'm off to my ship. I guess I'll be talking to the Admiral the rest of the night," Gillian said.

"Me too, but we're going back to Warrior for the night."

"Well you have a good night Major," Gillian said, snapping to attention and saluting.

Major Owens snapped to attention and returned her salute.

"Good night Lieutenant. Have a pleasant evening."

"Thank you, Major."

Gillian turned and headed to her ship. The door opened at her touch. She was inside and out of her gear and singlet. She pulled on an old pair of sweats and shook her hair out. Having that combat helmet on had given her a headache.

"Cass, aspirin please."

A cabinet opened. Gillian took the aspirin bottle and shook two out in her hand. Putting the bottle back, the cabinet closed and she took a glass from the counter and filled it from the water cooler. She swallowed down the pills with a big gulp of water.

"The Admiral is on channel 2, Ma'am."

"Thanks, Cass."

Chapter 133

"Good evening Admiral," Gillian said after hearing the click of the comm system.

"Ah... it is isn't? Sorry to bother you... "

"But you want an update?"

"Yes, if you would Lieutenant."

Calling her by her rank let Gillian know others were present. She wondered who.

"Not at all Admiral, not at all. The Progens are three and a half hours ahead of us. They have gone to bed for the night and will resume deliberations in the morning sometime. When they have made a decision they will notify me."

"Progens. I like that. So you won't be present when they resume in the morning?"

"No, sir."

"Can we listen in?"

"No, sir."

"Why not?"

"I gave my word."

"I see."

"Do you sir?"

"I do. How will they let you know when they are done?"

"They will call my name and use a predetermined phrase to alert Cass, who will alert me, sir."

"Then Caster is listening?"

"Only for that phrase, sir."

"But you can change Caster's program... "

"She can't sir. I won't let her." Gillian chuckled at Cass' interruption.

"I see."

"Why do you think you need to listen in, sir?"

"To tell who the basic players are."

"I can tell you that, sir."

"You can? Well, do so."

"The main players are Thesses and Brela. Mother and daughter. There are four of the other that will follow Thesses no matter what and one who follows Brela. The decision will be made and it will most likely be what Thesses wants. But there will be two rebel groups we will have to watch. I have locked all the consoles on the bridge, but there are consoles in engineering that will need to be locked if they aren't already."

"They are Ma'am."

"Thank you, Cass."

"Thanks, Caster," Ezra said. "Lieutenant, I guess we're finished until they have made a decision, so have a good night. We will talk again in the morning."

"Yes, sir."

"Comm cut," Cass said.

"I didn't get to tell him good night."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Gillian pouted for a while, but soon realized she was starving. She fixed herself dinner. She ate as she always did in her pilot's chair. Cass always complained about crumbs, but the ship was self-cleaning. She typed in a query and pictures started to appear. Satellite pictures of the island by Cuba. Isla de la Juventud or Isle of Youth. The picture was fairly old. It still showed the cities, which were now overgrown. Nature had reclaimed its property.

"Cass, print these out."

"Of course, Ma'am."

"Thank you, dear." Gillian decided it was time for bed. "Good night Cass."

"Good night Gillian." The few times Cass used her first name was when she was saying good night. Gillian was soon curled up in bed and breathing softly.

Gillian was up at her usual time. Early, early. She made herself breakfast and sat eating in the pilot's chair. She wiggled in the chair. It would need a new seat cushion when she returned to Earth, this one was rather lumpy now.

"Cass, is there a terminal close to where Thesses is?"

"There are two, dormant and locked."

"Does either have a printer?"

"The one closest to her quarters does."

"Good."

Gillian typed in a note to Thesses and filed it in Caster's memory.

"Could you activate the printer and print my note along with the photos of the island?"

"If the printer is still operational, Ma'am."

"See if it is please."

Cass was quiet for a couple of minutes. Gillian wondered what was taking her so long when she quipped.

"It's operational and has been used not so long ago."

"What took so long?"

"I was searching the archives to see who used it last."

"Well?"

"It was Eliot. Once a week he goes to it and prints out the status of the cold sleep capsules. His next time will be tomorrow."

"Can you tell if Thesses is awake?"

"She is."

"Is she near a speaker?"

"There are speakers in all the quarters."

"Can you tell her to pick up the printouts please?"

"Yes, Ma'am. This might take awhile. Starting printouts."

For five minutes Cass didn't utter a word inside the ship. Gillian jumped at the next voice she heard.

"Gillian?"

"Thesses, yes, I'm here."

"Thank you for the pictures. Do those cities still exist?"

"Yes and no. The skeletons of the buildings might still be there, but I'm sure that nature has reclaimed them."

"Yes, nature, a fickle mother."

"That she is."

"So, Cass says she can see the entire ship?"

"She can if I ask her too. I only thought you might want those pictures this morning if you are inclined to... "