Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 07

"We're here, and you don't even have to walk all the way back to your quarters. I found you two a bed for the night, right here in the shuttle bay."

"One of your ships?" Thesses asked.

"No, one of yours."

"One of ours? Which? One of those big monsters?"

"No, what would be designated as the Captain's Gig," Gillian told her.

"Gig? Captain's?"

"Come, I'll show you," Gillian said, pulling on the handle to open the hatch.

Scrambling down the ladder, Gillian waited at the bottom for Thesses and Eliot. When they came out, they both looked up at the transport ship. Both gasped in awe.

"No, no, over here," Gillian shouted pointing to the ship in the corner. It was a little bigger than Caster but shaped like a shuttlecraft with extra bumps.

"Oh," Thesses whispered as she looked where Gillian was pointing.

The three walked back to the little ship. Gillian looked over the panel at the side of the hatch, Thesses and Delvin stood looking over the little ship. Leaning in, Gillian punched the code into the keypad. The keys were a little stiff, but made contact, displaying the number in the little window above the keys. After the last number appeared, the ship began to groan as the hatch slid slowly open.

Gillian quickly backed away as a set of stairs pushed out of the fuselage just under the hatch and dropped down to rest on the deck. Gillian stood to the side looking up through the hatch. The interior was brightly lit and clean. No dust covered equipment here. Thesses was cautiously climbing the stairs, looking up and then back down at Gillian. Gillian nodded at her hurrying around to get up the stairs into the ship.

At the top of the stairs, just inside the hatch, Thesses stopped. Gillian squeezed passed her and immediately went to the flight deck. She sat in the pilot's chair and looked over the flight controls. She pressed a button and the word 'locked' was displayed on the center screen, along with the word 'occupied'. Nodding she rose and went back into the main cabin. Thesses and Eliot were still staring at everything. The main cabin was quite luxuriously appointed.

Gillian went back and looked in the bedroom area. It was small as rooms go, but the bed was big. It should sleep two quite nicely.

"Everything is so clean, for being so old," Thesses said.

"It is," Gillian replied. "It might be because the interior was in a vacuum. That groaning we heard as the hatch was opening was the air pumps pressurizing the interior."

Gillian went to the bed and pulled the bedclothes back. She ran her hand over the sheets. They were soft to the touch and didn't pull apart.

"Well, everything looks to be just as it was left. I don't know about you, but I'm beat. I will leave you two to get some much-needed rest. I'll close the hatch as I leave... "

"The air won't be pumped out, will it?" Thesses asked frightened by the thought.

"No, the ship should sense you are in here. But to be safe, come over here by the hatch. If you feel yourself getting lightheaded, press this big red button. It will snap the hatch open. Let's try it out," Gillian hit the button.

The hatch opened. Not a snap, but faster than it had from the outside. Nodding, Gillian stepped out, squatted down and pressed the close button on the panel. The hatch closed slowly. There was no groan associated with it closing. Nodding she pressed the open button, no code was needed as there were people inside.

"Okay, the air won't be pumped out. I will bid you goodnight."

"Good night my dear," Thesses replied waving her hand in a gesture Gillian was not familiar with.

Gillian pressed the close button and watched the hatch close. Walking down the stairs she was surprised as they retracted as she stepped off the last one. Grunting her surprise, she turned and went to her ship and much-needed sleep.

Chapter 139

"Gillian," Cass said softly. "Gillian," she said a little louder. "Gillian," she shouted.

"What?" Gillian croaked sitting up in bed and looking around.

"Thesses is at the hatch asking to come in."

"Is she alone?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Let her in."

Gillian heard the hatch open.

"Gillian dear," Thesses' voice came from the main cabin.

"In here, dear."

"Oh! I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

"I should be up, but Cass let me sleep in."

"Sorry, Ma'am."

"No need."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Gillian rose, stretched while she yawned, then growled. Thesses giggled going forward to give her a little privacy. Gillian changed into a clean singlet, brushed her hair and her teeth. By then the coffee, Cass had started, was ready.

"Thesses, would you like a cup of coffee?"

"What?"

"Coffee."

"I don't know what that is."

"Here try a sip of mine," Gillian said offering her cup. "It's hot, so be careful."

Thesses took a tentative sip. Made a face and handed the cup back to Gillian.

"Well, even on Earth it's not to everyone's taste." Gillian took a sip and moaned with pleasure at the taste.

"I see you enjoy it."

"I do." Gillian took a deeper sip of the hot black liquid.

"The Admiral would like for you to come to Warrior," Cass told Gillian.

"Thesses... "

"Can I go? I will be no trouble."

"What about Eliot?" Gillian asked.

"I don't have to take him. He saw there is no danger over there yesterday."

"If you want. Cass, get us there and don't tell anyone that Thesses is with us."

"Yes, Ma'am."

The ship rose off the deck and started to move toward the shuttle hatch.

"Staff Sergeant Glen is on channel three, Ma'am."

"Yes, Staff Sergeant?"

"We need you up in the bridge, Ma'am."

"Why?"

"We need the consoles unlocked."

"Ah, okay just a moment. Cass whose up there?"

"The Staff Sergeant and some engineers. They say they have clearance from the Admiral."

"Okay, standby."

"Channel muted."

"Send code 1599ABD6990Z."

"Sent. Channel open."

"Are the consoles clear Staff Sergeant?" Gillian asked.

"They are, thank you, Ma'am. Glen out."

"Channel closed, Ma'am."

"Okay continue to Warrior."

"May I ask a question?" Thesses asked.

"Sure."

"How many Warrior ships are there, if this is named Warrior One?"

"There are now five Warrior Class ships."

"And the other ship?"

"The Tór?"

"Yes."

"There are five of them also."

"Are there any bigger ships?"

"There are, so far three, the AMV Chicago was the first. She is a cargo hauler."

"How big is she? And why are all ships she?"

"Chicago is just a little over half the length and width of Progenitor. Her draft is much less. She does carry the biggest cargo pods ever built on Mars."

"Progenitor was built on Mars."

"Yes, she was. Would you like to see a picture of the shipyard?"

"Yes."

A picture of the Scara Mensa shipyards appeared on the big center monitor. Thesses gasped at what she saw.

"Where is the place Progenitor was build?"

"It's just south of the yard, here," she pointed to a smooth spot in the desert. "The bay has been filled in by the sandstorms, so it is no longer used. The underground complex is still there, though. That's where we found the records about Progenitor. All except your destination."

"Now that's strange. Although from what has been passed down from our ancestors, the destination was top secret for some reason. From what Great Grandma Karen told us, they were perilous times when the ship was launched."

"That might explain it. We're here." Commander Morrissey was the only office waiting.

Thesses stood aside to let Gillian open the hatch. She pushed Gillian toward the door, then followed. The look on Commander Morrissey's face was a sight to behold.

"Lieutenant, why wasn't I informed?" Commander Morrissey growled.

"She was following my request, Tara. I asked her not to inform anyone over here I was coming. I'm so tired of being treated like a woman of patronage."

"Of course Princess."

"Stop that this instant, I'm Thesses. Understand Tara?"

"Yes, Ma'am... er... Thesses."

"Why am I here Commander?" Gillian asked.

"The Admiral wants to see you. Come this way."

Tara led them not to the bridge, but to a conference room in the middle of the ship. From what Gillian could see, the room was big. As they stepped inside, Tara stepped aside to let Gillian pass her. Gillian almost stopped. Once again her mind was screaming to run. The room was filled with people. Not a lot of people. As she looked around she realized she knew each and every one of them.

"Lieutenant Saraid, front and center," the Admiral shouted.

Gillian quickened her pace to almost a run stopping in front of the Admiral at attention and snapping a perfect salute. She held it. The Admiral smiled at her, then threw a perfect salute. They both brought their hands down at the same time.

"Lieutenant Gillian Saraid, for exceptional performance of your duties in the face of extreme danger to you and your ship and showing a proficiency beyond your rank I hereby promote you to Lieutenant Commander."

Gillian's eyes bugged out of her head. She stood there, her mouth hanging open.

"Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander Saraid," Admiral Nichols told her, handing her gold oak leaves.

"Thank you, Admiral, thank you very much." Gillian saluted. The Admiral saluted back.

"Here, let me help you with these. I remember my first pair. I wish I had them here I would have loved for you to wear them."

"I would have appreciated that, sir."

Ezra took her Lieutenants bars off her collar and replaced them with the oak leaf clusters. He smiled at her, then took her hand and shook it. She held his hand firmly and let go when he did. She stepped back and saluted him once again. He saluted back.

"Dismissed," he yelled.

Everyone rushed forward to be first to congratulate Gillian. Thesses was there first. Everyone stopped. Admiral Nichols, eyes glinting, saluted Thesses.

"Stop that, this instant," she yelled.

Ezra took a step back dropping his salute.

"That's better, dear, now come over here and give us a hug."

Gillian was surprised when Ezra pulled her to him and gave her a gentle, fatherly hug. He turned to Thesses and hugged her like a young man hugging his grandmother. Thesses chuckled as he let her go.

"Well it looks like they have a little party for you to attend, my dear," Thesses told Gillian.

"Yes," was all Gillian said.

The party didn't last long as everyone had work to do, but Gillian found herself enjoying the time together with those she called friends. Although her mind never stopped shouting for her to run.

Chapter 140

An hour after the party broke up, Gillian found herself in Caster with a science type floating alongside one of the anomalies. The science type, had her plug in some equipment to Caster so he could 'look' at the anomalies. He didn't say much. An ah or a grunt was all as he took readings.

"Can we catch up with the next one?" he asked.

"Sure. Cass."

"Yes, Ma'am."

After a couple of seconds, they were alongside the second anomaly.

"They are getting closer together, Ma'am," Cass said.

"They are," the science guy said. "They shouldn't be doing that."

"They will engage each other in approximately fifteen minutes. I suggest we move off about a light year," Cass said.

"Do it," Gillian told her.

"No... damn... I need to see what happens," he complained.

Gillian pointed at her monitors.

"What view do you want?"

The science guy blinked, shook his head, then slumped back against the bulkhead.

"My sensors, my sensors," he said over and over.

Gillian looked at his equipment, nodded and turned to her console. She typed in some commands and two of her screen displayed what his equipment did. He stared at the monitors.

"That's better than my stuff. How did you do that?"

"This is a scout ship. It has the most sophisticated sensor gear that the Federation has."

"Five minutes to engagement." Cass alerted them.

Both Gillian and science guy watched the screens. Gillian had one that was a zoomed in visual light and another that was sensors only.

"Three minutes," Cass said.

"What do you think will happen?" Gillian asked the science guy.

"I don't know."

"There will be a blinding flash of light and then an explosion of about magnitude five. After that I don't know," Cass said.

"How do you know that?" Gillian asked.

"Two minutes. Because that's what happened last time."

"Last time?"

"It was a long, long time ago, in a different part of the galaxy... "

"What are you talking about Cass?" Gillian was worried.

"One minute. Those are the memories of the Progenitor."

"My God. The hole in the hull?"

"Yes. Two such anomalies came together over the ship. Two hundred people were lost. Zero."

There was a flash. It lit up the inside of Caster. Gillian looked at her monitors. They were dimmed so they wouldn't blind her.

"Where did the anomalies come from?" Gillian asked.

"Two small ships and a large ship." Cass knew what she wanted. "The small ships were firing at the large ship. The large ship fired at the small ships. The small ships turned into the anomalies, right over the Progenitor. When they came together they exploded. The big ship took Progenitor inside it. There are memories, disjointed memories, of the Progenitor being repaired. Then it was on its way across the void. It was going faster than ever before.

"The anomalies have become one bigger anomaly I'm afraid," Cass finished.

"Is it still on track to intersect the Progenitor?"

"It is. The Progenitor must be moved. The resulting collision will most likely destroy the ship. And the ship is very valuable to us."

"Who's us?"

"The Federation. There is a lot of information in the databanks, yes that's what they called the storage devices back then."

"Okay. Doc, have you got what you need?"

"Yes. My, yes. More than I could have expected."

"Good. Cass, back to Warrior, please?" Gillian asked.

"Yes, Ma'am."

The shutter flickered and Warrior was just outside when it opened.

"Upper shuttle bay, please."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Gillian let the science guy out. Still sitting in her chair, "Cass, where is Thesses?"

"She is in mess hall four," Cass replied.

"Thank you, dear."

"You're welcome, Ma'am."

Gillian exited her ship. She had to get Thesses and take her back to Progenitor. As she walked to the lock to the inside of Warrior, she noticed a new scout ship in the bay. It was Chaser. Michelle was here! How! Gillian raced to the lock and was hurrying down the corridor, she needed to get Thesses and then find her friend. It had been a long time since she had seen her, a long time. Just after flight school.

Mess hall four was on the same level as the shuttle bay. Gillian was there in minutes. As she entered she looked around for Thesses but found Michelle. With Thesses. Gillian hurried toward them. When Michelle caught sight of her, her eyes widened and she smiled. Big smile and she was up and out of her seat rushing to Gillian. They were both laughing as they embraced. Michelle was slapping Gillian on the back and congratulating her on her promotion.

After almost a minute of them both talking non-stop, they were at the table where Thesses had been watching them. So was everyone else in the mess hall, but Gillian didn't see them, just Michelle, her dear, dear friend.

Chapter 141

"Where the hell have you been?" Gillian asked Michelle.

Michelle Watson was from the largest city in the North American Directorate. She had chosen one man scouts for a reason, to be able to spend time alone. At first, she had been scared to death of being alone. Then her ship started to talk to her. A soft, soothing voice, that calmed her.

"I was over on the other side of the galactic arm pinging Gar ships headed your way." Michelle laughed as she talked. "It's so good to see you, Gilly."

"Don't call me that here, please, Michy."

"Right. Sorry, Commander." Michelle made a face as she apologized.

"Knock it off."

"Sure."

"So what are you doing here? How did you get here?"

"I was just telling your friend Thesses. Chaser has this new drive... "

"So, does Caster and Warrior."

"I know."

"So what are you doing here?"

"I've been assigned to a new scout ship squadron."

"What? I haven't heard of any new squadron... "

"Lieutenant Commander Saraid," Admiral Nichols voice cut through the hubbub of the mess hall. "Front and center."

"Aye, aye, sir," Gillian yelled getting up from her seat and rushing to the Admiral's table.

"Have a seat Gillian."

"Thank you, sir."

"It's now time."

"Time for what, sir?"

"With your new rank comes new responsibilities. I have taken steps to create a new type of squadron. A squadron of scout ships. You are to lead them, teach them, train them."

Gillian's eyes widened at the Admiral's words.

"Your friend Lieutenant Watson is just the first ship to be assigned to your Squadron, Commander. There are four more ships on the way. Your squadron will be assigned to Fleet One. My fleet. Do you understand Commander?"

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. May I ask who else... "

"Yes. Chaser, Finder, Quest, Explorer and Scout."

"All piloted by NAD citizens."

"All except Scout."

"Thank you, sir. What will our duties be, now that... "

"Just do what you do best, scout."

"Yes, sir."

"Also, teach your mates what you know. Teach them about talking to their ships. But you also have the duty with Thesses and Progenitor. Until this is resolved, that will be your primary duty. Clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Okay, you can return to your friend. The other ships will be here tomorrow sometime."

"Thank you, sir."

Gillian got up, saluted the Admiral, turned and hurried back to Michelle and Thesses.

"What did he say?" Thesses asked.

"Nothing really."

"Don't give us that crap," Michelle said. "I have read my orders."

"Fine. I have been made the Commander of a new scout ship squadron assigned to Fleet One."

Gillian's mind was telling her, shouting at her, to run. Run as far away as she could. The only reason she didn't was that she wanted the Admiral to be proud of her. That's all she wanted. She didn't care about her promotion or about being given her first command. She just wanted to have the Admiral be proud of her.

"Congratulation," Thesses said smiling at her.

"I'm proud to be assigned to you and the squadron," Michelle said hugging Gillian to her. "Who else is in it?"

Gillian took a deep breath, shook her head and looked at Michelle.

"Becky is one. Anna. Bridget. A stranger to me, Cass Pól."

"That means Cassidy will be here too!" Michelle gasped.

"It does."

"Is that bad?" asked Thesses.

"No. They are all from the N.A.D. and we were all in the same fleet scout classes. Except for Cass Pól of course. Although I recall a guy, not N.A.D., but not from the European democracies either. Australia maybe? I don't know."

"But that name is Irish," Michelle said.

"And mine is Arabic, so what?"

"Nothing. I meant nothing by it."

"Is there something I should know about?" Thesses asked.

"Not really. There is some animosity toward the Irish Republic for starting the Class Wars. A series of conflicts that spanned the globe and lasted a hundred years."

"Do you hold any of this animosity?" Thesses asked Gillian.

"No, Ma'am. Although there are some of the Irish who look down on N.A.D. citizens. As long as they are lower in rank, at least."

"You don't have to worry about Nolan, him and Pat flashed out of here earlier after talking with the Admiral," Michelle told her.

Gillian didn't say anything, but a wave of relief washed over her.

"Thesses, what would you like to do for the rest of the day?" Gillian asked her.

"Why don't we take Michelle and show her the Progenitor?"

"Oh, yeah, can we?" Michelle asked, excitement tinting her voice.