Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 07

"Two ships or one?" Gillian asked.

"You're the boss," Michelle replied smiling.

"One. We can all fit in Caster." Gillian rose, turned and headed for the shuttle bay. Michelle and Thesses followed close behind.

The rest of the day was spent roaming around the Progenitor. Thesses took them to all five of the enclaves, including the forest. Work was going on there to clear the tallest of the trees, so the smaller ones could have room to grow. There were members from all five enclaves working side by side. And of course, there was Brela. Thesses went to her immediately. Shortly thereafter Brela left her face a mask of anger. The rest of the day was pleasant as were the people of the ship.

In the cold sleep bay, doctors and nurses were taking readings and discussing the well-being of those in the capsules. In the engine room, there were engineers from both Warrior and Tór working on installing the new hyperdrive and seeing if the other controls were in working order. In the control room, there were more engineers. The captain's body and the one in the hall had been moved.

"Thesses?" Gillian queried.

"They asked permission. I gave it and oversaw the moving of the bodies to our forest enclave. They were buried with all dignity and honor we could provide."

"Ah, good."

Later that evening, Gillian and Michelle enjoyed a meal with Thesses at her enclave. The food, although a little bland, was good and hearty. After eating, Gillian took Michelle back to Warrior, then returned to Progenitor for the night.

Chapter 142

Gillian was up early the next morning. She actually had fun the prior day with Thesses and Michelle. She sat in her flight seat eating her breakfast. Cereal and milk, with a sliced banana. She was going over messages she had received the day before.

"Cass, why didn't you notify me of these yesterday?"

"They were all marked routine, Ma'am."

"Okay, no harm, I guess. What is all this anyway? You scanned them didn't you?"

"I did. With your new job comes responsibility and paperwork."

"Ugh... paperwork." Gillian made a face, an unpleasant face.

"Yes, Ma'am."

For the next hour, Gillian read and where necessary signed and sent on her paperwork. Some of it was just mundane blather about ship movements and personnel changes. She received a memo about the scout ships and personnel being transferred to her newly formed squadron. Then she read about being appointed the commander of said squadron. The first was dated before the notice. Talk about a bureaucracy. When she finished, she showered and dressed for the day. She stood admiring her new rank insignia in the mirror for all of ten seconds.

"Michelle is at the hatch," Cass told her.

"Let her in."

The hatch opened and Michelle entered. She was subdued as she approached Gillian.

"What?" Gillian asked. "Do I have drool running down my chin?"

"No, Ma'am. Your squadron is ready for inspection, Ma'am."

"Oh! Thank you, Lieutenant. I'll be right out."

"Yes, Ma'am," Michelle said nodding slightly.

Turning stiffly, Michelle exited the craft. Now Gillian had to go out and say something to her fellow scout ship crews. She knew they would pass any inspection, not only them but their ships. Squaring her shoulders, Gillian pulled the hatch open and stepped out. The group was lined up in front of their ships. As big as the Progenitor's shuttle bay was all six scouts were flea specks on its deck.

The ships and crew were lined up by rank. The first ship was Finder, with Lieutenant Bridget Carlin and Lieutenant JG Cassidy Tulla. The next ship was Chaser and Lieutenant Michelle Watson. Next was Scout and Lieutenant Cass Pól. Then came Explorer with Lieutenant Anna Duff. And finally, Quest with Lieutenant JG Becky Miller.

Cass Pól was the only male crew member. He wasn't handsome, but neither was he ugly. He was just, normal looking. His features weren't unpleasant, they just weren't spectacular. He was... ordinary. Gillian smiled as she made that assessment. Looking over all them, they all appeared ordinary. Even her evaluation of herself in her mind's eye turned out to be ordinary.

As she thought all this, she was walking to where Bridget Carlin stood. Gillian stopped in front of Bridget. Stared into her clear green eyes, then looked her up and down. Nodding she moved to her right and did the same to Cassidy Tulla. She gave each the same scrutiny she had Bridget.

"At ease," Gillian shouted as she stepped away from Becky Miller.

Everyone relaxed. No one said a word. Gillian smiled.

"I have duties elsewhere, so Bridget will be leading you for the next couple of days. If you need to refuel, do so on Warrior unless you're told to go to Tór. Bridget, front and center."

Bridget snapped to attention and double-timed it to Gillian.

"Beside me, you and Becky are probably the best sensor operators in the squadron. Take them out. Teach them what you know and how you do what you do. If you have any questions, ask your ship."

"My ship?"

"Cass, have you downloaded all the sensor data we collected while we have been here to the other ships?"

"I have, Ma'am," Cass responded on an external speaker.

Bridget jumped.

"Your ships now have all my ships sensor data. One order, stay away from the anomaly, is that clear?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"If you haven't been talking to your ship, this will come as a surprise... they talk to each other."

"What? Talking ships?"

"Ask Michelle. People gather round," Gillian yelled. The crews hurried over to her.

"What's going on?" Michelle asked.

"Other than Michelle, who talks to their ships, a show of hands please."

Anna, Becky, and Cass raised their hands.

"Bridget, Cassidy, get to know your ship, they can make your life so much easier."

"What do you mean?" Cassidy asked.

"Cass, button up," Gillian shouted.

The hatch on Caster closed with a clang and the ladder retracted.

"Cass open up, please."

The hatch opened and the ladder extended.

"How long does it take you to set up for a jump?"

"Couple minutes," Bridget answered.

"Your ship can do it in seconds and she will never make a mistake. In fact, if what you are asking for is a mistake she will correct it before making the jump. Trust me. Talk to the others. Bridget, you are in command, take them out and do sensor drills."

"Yes, Ma'am," Bridget snapped to attention and snapped a salute.

Gillian returned the salute. "Dismissed," she yelled.

The group broke and followed Bridget to Finder where she gave the rest her orders. Michelle followed her and Cassidy inside. Gillian turned and went back inside Caster.

"Are they talking to Finder?"

"They are. Bridget and Cassidy seem very surprised and a little hurt that Finder never let on she could talk to them. Cassidy is complaining about all those lonely watches while Bridget was asleep and she was alone staring at her sensor screens."

"I know how they feel, my dear. It took you a long time to come out of your shell," Gillian told her ship.

"And you'll never know how sorry I am it did, Ma'am."

"I'm sure, my dear. What's on our agenda today?"

"The latest message from the Admiral is that you and Thesses, along with Staff Sergeant Glen and his squad are to continue to explore the Progenitor."

"Is Thesses in her quarters?" Gillian asked.

"No, she's on her way here. I woke her when you were inspecting your crews."

"You didn't?"

"She told me too. She asked that I also listen for my name in her quarters when she found out I could."

"All this listening isn't overtaxing you, is it?" Gillian asked her ship anxiously.

"No, Ma'am. When I'm out of either ship, I'm disconnected and focused on the job at hand. When I'm in either ship, I like to be able to do things to help people while I'm just sitting around with nothing to do."

"Okay, dear, just checking. I don't want you to overdo anything."

"I won't, Ma'am. The ships just left the bay."

"Thank you, Cass."

Chapter 143

"Thesses is here," Cass said softly.

"Thank you," Gillian replied shaking her head. She hadn't even realized how much time had passed as she read the never-ending streams of reports and notices, now that she was in charge of a squadron. "Cass, could I delegate all this to you and you only tell me about the important ones?"

"You want me to be your secretary?"

"Assistant."

"You could, but I will need parameters as to what you need to see and won't need to see."

"Of course. Thesses good to see you," Gillian said as the woman stepped inside.

"Good to see you too, Gillian. What's are we doing today, my dear?"

"Exploring."

"Oh good. Just me and you?"

"No Staff Sergeant Glen and his men will be with us. The Admiral wants us both to be safe."

"Well, are we ready to go?"

"Cass, where are the Marines now?"

"They are walking toward me."

"Thank you."

Gillian waved her hand toward the hatch. Thesses nodded and exited, followed by Gillian. Staff Sergeant Glen and his people were just lining up. They snapped to attention as Thesses came down the ladder.

"The Staff Sergeant wishes to congratulate the Lieutenant Commander on her recent promotion, Ma'am," Glen said while snapping a perfect salute.

"Thank you, Carl," Gillian said smiling and returning his salute. Glen smiled back at her. "At ease. We are on an exploration expedition today. Thesses should we start with the very first deck?"

"I don't know. I have never been down this far."

"First deck. Watch for breached compartments. If a hatch is closed, check the readings. If they seem okay, have a look through the port. Got it?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Glen said for everyone.

"Let's go. Staff Sergeant, standard order."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Thesses and Gillian fell into line just behind Phillips and headed for the hatch into the interior of the ship.

"Cass are you with us?" Gillian whispered into her shoulder mic.

"Yes, Ma'am."

"How far in can you see? Can you tell us what's up ahead of us?"

"My scanners can see about five hundred meters in and about twenty decks up. You could have the squadron do a scanner survey of the ship and transmit the data to me, so I can fill in the construction blueprints of the ship."

"Good idea, Cass. Do it."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Gillian was surprised to hear herself order the squadron to execute sensor sweeps of the Progenitor and transmit the data to Caster. She would have to have a talk with Cass about using her voice.

"You're clear for about one hundred meters up the starboard corridor. Turn left at the next intersection then right at the last."

"Thank you, Cass."

Cass was right, one hundred meters up the starboard corridor they were stopped by an airtight hatch. The readings said there was nothing but vacuum on the other side. Gillian lifted the blackout panel and looked inside. It was black as night inside. Pulling her flashlight from her thigh pocket, she placed it against the glassine window. What she saw was chaos. The hole in the floor was fairly small, but everything in the room had been pulled there by the escaping air. Then she spotted the two bodies. Desiccated, yet still complete. The pair were not wearing uniforms.

"Thesses, there are two people in there. It's not a pleasant picture. Would you like to take a look?" Gillian asked.

Thesses moved up quickly, stood on tippy-toe and looked inside. She exhaled. She had been holding her breath.

"I don't know them."

"Are you missing any people?" Gillian asked.

"Yes. Our teens used to go exploring before we realized that these lower decks were just as vulnerable as the upper ones to losing air... quickly. We are missing four from a few years back."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Cass, how do we get around this?"

"First corridor back turn left. At the next one turn left. Then the next turn left. It will bring you back to your current corridor."

"You knew this blockage was here?"

"I did. I thought you might want to see for yourself."

"You're right of course." Turning, Gillian began back up the corridor. "Let's go."

They continued their exploration of the ship. The far starboard corridor was clear all the way to the engineering spaces. Most cabins were closed. They didn't try opening any, but there were a few open to their inspection.

"Just like ours. Yep. Just like the ones we live in upstairs," Thesses said after looking in the first one they came to.

She was right. All the other open ones were exactly the same.

"Now where Cass?" Gillian asked.

"Finder and the rest have completed the lower deck sweeps. Go back a corridor. Turn left. That should put you in the cross ship corridor."

The cross ship corridor wasn't particularly exciting. It went straight across the ship without turning. To their left was engineering. To their right were spaces for not only the dozens upon dozens of thrusters but the engineering for the forest that started six decks up. So far the ship had been lucky, no meteors had struck the bottom of the ship in this area. They could see engineers inspecting machines as they passed the open doors.

They were across the ship in almost no time at all. When they reached the last corridor on the opposite side of the ship, they turned right.

"You should be clear until amidships," Cass whispered. "Then you will come to another airtight hatch. The scans show vacuum."

"Any bodies," Gillian asked as they walked slowly down the corridor.

"None that sensors could see. There is a jumble of stuff in the center of the corridor. It looks as though all the things from the cabins have been sucked out into the corridor."

"Okay. Are they finished with the scans?"

"They are. I am filling in the blueprints. There is a section in the very middle of the ship that their scanners couldn't see. We will have to use portable scanners to see there."

"We'll see," Gillian said a little skeptical.

Cass didn't answer and Gillian just kept walking. When they came to the sealed hatch, Gillian looked in as before. She saw nothing. The hole must be at the other end. Thesses ducked in to look as Gillian moved out of the way.

"All right, lunch," Gillian said leaning against the wall and sliding down to sit on the floor.

She noticed her legs ached. She closed her eyes and groaned as she straightened them. Thesses was down next to her.

"Here, drink this," Thesses said pouring a clear liquid into a small cup.

"What's this?" Gillian asked sniffing the liquid.

"It will stop the leg muscles from tightening up and relieve the pain."

The liquid didn't have an odor, so Gillian gulped it down. She almost spits it out but was too late as it was burning down her throat. She was coughing and wheezing, trying to catch her breath.

"What the hell was that?" she asked when she was finally able to breathe again.

"We brew it in the forest from the smaller potatoes. Then we added some of the white oak bark during fermentation."

"Vodka and aspirin, great."

"Vodka?" Staff Sergeant Glen asked.

"Never you mind Carl."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Chapter 144

After lunch, the group went around the blocked section, by going into the interior of the ship. Not much of anything different was found. Same open rooms, etc. Once they were back in the port side corridor they made good time. Eventually, they came upon the ramp system they used to get up to the control room.

"Well, we know what's that way," Gillian said point to the shuttle bay. "Cass is there anything of interest on the first deck?"

"Just more of the same. It might be interesting to explore one of the landing pads. From the outside, they seem to have viewports."

"Which way?"

"Not far. Straight along the corridor, you're in then the second corridor on the right. Fifty meters and you're there."

To the meter, Cass was correct. There in front of them was a wall which the corridor swept around in either direction. Just to the right of the corridor was an open hatch. Gillian walked to it and looked in. What she saw was a machine room. What the machines were for, she had no idea. They filled the space for two decks up.

There were indeed viewports along the outboard walls. Peering out, Gillian saw empty space. Everyone came in and had a look. No one said anything.

"Well, what were you expecting?" Thesses asked laughing. Everyone else broke into laughter. Gillian was chuckling as she climbed the stairs up and out of the place.

"Cass, any more interesting places?"

"There is one I just found. Twenty-five decks up about one hundred meters in."

"What's so interesting?" Gillian asked.

"The scanners can't see the space. Becky tried five times to get information from that space but couldn't. It seems to be shielded."

"How strange? Okay, we're on our way. Staff Sergeant, it may be nothing, but on your toes just in case, all right? Elevators?"

"Yes, Ma'am, elevators will be fine. You heard the lady. Look, sharp people. Move out."

Gillian and Thesses fell in behind Phillips once again. The car that came to pick them up was the same car that always came.

"Any word on the other cars?" Gillian asked the group.

"From what I hear they are looking into it," Carl said as he stepped inside the car.

Gillian stood in front of the panel of buttons. Not wanting to step into the unknown, she pressed the button marked twenty-eight. Looking at Carl as she did, he nodded solemnly. She was learning. Thesses also smiled at her choice. Two Marines, Phillips and Bean had their weapons up and pointing each way down the corridor. Sams was pointing hers straight out the doors. Those three were out first and fast. The rest of the group took their time.

"Well, no one waiting for us," Gillian said seriously.

"Which way Ma'am," Staff Sergeant Glen asked.

"The ramps are closest," Gillian replied.

"Standard order," Glenn said softly. "Move out."

They were at the ramps within minutes. Going down was much easier than up. At level twenty-five, they halted. Theirs were the only footprints on the ramp. Even the footprints from that first day had been covered over by dust. But there were footprints that led up to the ramp, then turned around and went back the way they came.

"Hmmm... " Gillian groaned squatting down to look at the footprints. "Staff Sergeant, what do you think?"

Glen took a knee and looked at the prints. Then he looked at the prints Gillian's boots made. Then at the prints his boots made. Then at the prints Thesses boots made.

"Not any of our people or Thesses'," Glen said softly.

"I noticed that too. Let's go see who did," Gillian whispered.

Glen made several hand signals to his people and everyone moved out... quietly. The group was silent as ghosts as they moved down the corridor leading to the shielded section. Thesses must not know of this place as she didn't say anything about knowing who might be down here. Just as Cass had told them, they came to a jumbled barrier of furniture and equipment. Sams' called a halt and everyone took a knee. Glen was beside Gillian. He gave her an inquisitive look. Gillian shrugged her shoulders.

Looking down Gillian saw none of the strange footprints. Turning she saw they turned off at the last corridor, not far behind them. Poking Glen she pointed back down the corridor. He nodded. He signaled his people turned and took the lead. He slowly crept back down the corridor. At the turn, he peeked around the corner. Nodding he stepped around and slowly moved, following the footprints, down the corridor.

Stopping in front of a closed door, Glen took a knee and pulled a small portable scanner from a vest pocket. He gently pressed it against the door and activated the device. Looking at the small screen, Glen nodded, stood up and went to press the button to open the door. Gillian reached out, grabbed his hand and stopped him. She shook her head as she pulled his hand back. Pointing behind her she moved back from the door.