Francesca bids us farewell and tells us to encourage more Earth vendors to list on the exchange. She hands me a growler of aether-infused beer that she started brewing and I promised to give her a review when I come back. She told be to leave the review in the exchange as I am a prominent member with a good rating.
I find out that Alaris can alter the permeability of her shields and that the shield over the shuttle and cargo bay has a setting to keep in atmospheric gasses only, so shuttles, gear and people can transit in and out as long as the bay doors are open and the shields have power. Katie and I have suits that have reactionary shield helmets, but it’s nice to know for when we have a crew.
“Alaris, position for geosynch orbit and prepare for warp to Kepler system.”
“Aye aye Admiral. It is recommended that you and Lieutenant O’Connell get to your stations and engage the safety restraints.”
Right, I had forgotten that three stations were required to be manned. “Copy that, Alaris. Also, until the completion of this mission, I am giving you permission to defend the ship with primary laser battery and internal anti-boarder systems unless it endangers your crew.”
“Temporary orders entered, Admiral.”
“Okay, that taken care of, I’m headed to engineering so we can get a move on.” I give them a casual two-finger salute and teleport to the engineering and propulsion console.
The console is currently flickering with a message:
/Distant coordinates have been entered as a destination, would you like to engage a long range warp using both the Manatech warp array and the Annihilation propulsor? Yes | No/
I select yes and the display flashes 5:00 large in my screen five times before counting down and moving the countdown to a corner of the screen. I link my HUD to engineering and ensure my eyes are two different displays.
I have pop-up prompts for aligning different systems including increased cooling capacity and extra power conduits to provide multiple paths of power to prevent melting of a single conduit. Shields were already aligned to fusion power and the front warp array has to be aligned to both fusion and aether batteries.These prompts for leading me through the sequence for engaging a long warp I s super helpful, but if they are mandatory for a person to push, I get why Alaris can’t do it herself. Might have to get Atropos a body of some sort.
Five minutes is not a long time, and before I have the opportunity to think to much about ship qualifications and other long0term issues, the ship shutters once and the ride smooths out immediately with a small decrease in acceleration that can be felt but isn’t jarring. A prompt appears telling me that the location prediction was within .0001% of targeted value.
Two tenths of a light year is kind of a lot.
Targeted value in this case is 100 kilometers off the surface of the inhabitable Kepler planet. We are out of position by ten meters. I will be engaging thrusters momentarily.
“Alaris, can we get those errors have a clickable sub-window to display the reference points for the error?”
->/Easily done Admiral./<-
“Alaris, I would also like to thank you for being so helpful throughout this learning process.”
->/I am only acting according to my directives, Admiral. Thanks are not necessary./<-
I shake my head at that. It’ll take some time, but we’ll get her a personality yet. I transport to the bridge and check in.
“Hey ladies. Everything okay?”
“I was unnecessary save pressing yes on a few buttons,” Tessa sounds sad.
“Mm. The sensor array on Alaris is impressive. She connected to the ansible before the warp and continued to collect a myriad of data throughout the transit. We should stop in each of our systems on the way back to collect surveys with this advanced array.”
“We’ll be here for a day or two, is that enough time for this system?”
“Absolutely, I’ll start it now.”
“Alaris, if it doesn’t detract from the survey, please recoup what aether you can while we’re here. I want to be able to hop to Copernicus and make a quick long warp back if you can.”
“Will your safety not be compromised?” Alaris asks.
“Alaris, I can teleport at will as long as I have the aether stores. And Indulgence can get me back to Kepler in one hop, so I don’t think it’ll be to big of an issue. Worse come to worse, I can make it to Elysium and recoup in my hideout for a month.”
“Hades system seems a fine fallback point. If we don’t have sensor readings of you returning to Elysium in three months, I’m coming after you.” Katie says while walking over to me and pulling me into a warm hug.
I stand on my toes and kiss her face full of worry. “Don’t worry baby, I’m coming back. Not sure how much destruction I’ll leave behind me, but I will see you again.”
“You better,” Tessa adds, “Because if you die, so do I and I just inhabited this body yesterday.”
I snag Tessa with an arm and pull her into my hug with Katie and I kiss Tessa’s forehead. “I’ll miss you too, you stylish pile of parts. Keep an eye on Katie please.”
She nods at that and vocally pings affirmation. I chuckle at the habit and how weird it is to hear from her expressive face.
I perform some cursory checks on the shuttle, my battery stores are 100%, all systems green. Katie gave me a crate full of tech that should be able to re-program the hack that Captain Morris put in place to block comms. Okay, opening bay doors, blast shield engaging (I should really change out some of the thrusters for matter repulsors), and away we go.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
I set navigation to 100km off the surface of Ganymede and proceed to 5km off Alaris’ port side before I engage the warp array. We still haven’t installed shields on Indulgence, but after the capacity upgrade and some skill upgrades, the journey is much less taxing than it was eight months ago. Andromeda, eight months? I really do have a problem with burying my head in work and not pulling my head out to breathe, don’t I? What am I going to do when there’s not some urgent problem to get to? Annoy Katie, probably.
As soon as I arrive, I ping Beecham.
/Chief, I’m in orbit, how copy/
/Good to see you Admiral, Hangar’s opening and ready to receive/
I ping in confirmation. My decent is a little hot, but the enchanted skin of the shuttle is more than able to keep the hull in tact, but it’s bound to heat up the hangar. Either way, don’t care so much. Beecham’s outpost is much bigger than Mercy’s installation around Astoria. Much bigger, like he wants to start building a shipyard around Sol, bigger.
I don’t wait for the hangar to close; instead I make my way to the Habitat airlock and begin the sequence. He’s instituted a spray-down decontamination? Nice touch. As soon as the inner hatch opens I see Beecham’s crew in two parallel lines, chatting. He looks over and snaps to attention.
“Attention on Deck!” Beecham shouts and his crew snaps to attention.
I lower my face shield, “At ease Crew.” I immediately go in for a handshake for Beecham and he smiles at that. “Military discipline for a moon crew? Am I to assume they want in?”
“I’ll let them introduce themselves if we have the time?” Chief asks me.
“Some accounting, then I absolutely do. First, great station Chief, we’ll talk later about the size, but now, I want to tell you there are some Astorian tech mods on the Exchange that you can add to your shuttle if you wish. I need it for this mission, so take a look and see what mods you can put in today. I’m putting a million AE in your station’s account. The rest I’ll ping you after I talk to your crew. Do not buy HAB suits just yet.”
He quirks and eye but responds with “Aye Admiral,” then speeds off into the hangar.
“Alright. Beecham signed up for shipyard duty plus the occasional away mission. This week is the away mission. What are you seven looking for?”
I look at all of them before they speak up, all of them are in un-marked Astorian coveralls. A smile creeps up my cheeks.
“Camacho, Ma’am” she salutes indoors. Nervous, former Army. Arms barely fit in the uniform. “Former motor pool, interested in logistics and boarding operations.”
“Lemoore, Ma’am” He comes to attention but is also looking at me and smiling. Probably Air or Space force. “former fast mover, second seat.” Navy? Damn. I could definitely use a second seat Nav and weapons Sailor.
“DeGurgis, Ma’am,” the straightest Andromeda damned back I’ve ever seen at attention barks at me. Marine? Ranger? Frog bait? “Current grease monkey, Marine, and former Special Forces.”
“I didn’t think Marines do special forces.”
“They don’t Ma’am. Hence the former.” I don’t want to like her, but damned if I don’t. The confidence, the earned arrogance, and knowing where she’s supposed to be lends credence to her attitude.
The remainder of the women and men in my coveralls all introduce themselves in a military manner. Another pilot, female, two more security slash other folks, and a hard-core aircraft engineer who was Beecham’s buddy from way back.
“Alright folks, are you of your own free will committing to an obligation to the Astorian Navy?”
They give a hearty Ma’am yes Ma’am.
“Good. The pay and subsistence will be according to the Astorian Naval Payscale, compensation in AE only. As the initial members of the force, you will be afforded nearly unlimited opportunity. We are expanding and will be well funded. I am looking for about ten thousand personnel and you are amongst the first dozen. This means more work, more pay, and more opportunities for failure. If Beecham didn’t tell you already, failure is understandable, negligence is not.” They nod at that.
“Now for the ‘Big Sister’ part of the convo. You will never feel my authority unless you lie to me, my Councilors, or an investigative team. Rest assured, if I am personally called in to find the truth, the truth will out. But I hope amongst all hope, that all I am asked for is strategy and money.”
I take a deep breath and continue. “Knowing this, I am offering Camacho, DeGurgis, and Lemoore a Commission in the Astorian Navy as Second Leiutenants, serving at the pleasure of the Empress and her Councilors. Do you understand and accept this appointment?”
“Yes Admiral.” The three sounded. Degurgis and Camacho even grinned.
“The remainder are being offered an enlistment contract of five years in their chosen role, accelerated to First Class, and agreeing to mentor future sailors in their role. You have eight hours to review your contracts. Report to Beecham while you decide.”
They all look at me as though they are waiting for something. Never having been an officer before establishing the Empire, it takes me a moment. “Crew dismissed.”
The newly appointed officers stick around. I smile at that.
“Okay, so. You sticking around lends to me feeling good at picking you three. I have a ship to man, and you three are going to help me test what I need, not what I think is appropriate. Lemoore, you’re my Navigation and Weapons Officer. Right now, I need you to research Galilei weapons and familiarize yourself with the Nav systems on Indulgence, and AES Shuttle 2. I’m sending you a link to the HAB suit supplier we favor and you can pick a model for your needs. It must have emergency head shielding. Dismissed.” I watch him go and wait for the hatch to shut behind him.
“Ladies, you both have overlapping areas of expertise. Camacho, you will be nominally be in charge of Maintenance and Fabrication. Which means you will have to interface with Chief Beecham, who is the leading chief of all shipyard operations, and be subordinate to the Security Officer while under boarding, away, and other security-based operations, and under the head of Imperial logistics for all else. Are you interested in this role?”
“Yes Ma’am. Who is the head of Imperial logistics?”
“Lieutenant Katelynn O’Connell. Also Consul of Trade for the Empire.”
“Is it wise to mix government with Military?” DeGurgis asks.
“No, it isn’t. But until she doesn’t have to fulfill both roles, she will. Just as it is not health for me to be the Empress and head of the Navy. I will do so until my Empire is populated appropriately. Will we have a problem, Degurgis?”
“No Ma’am. It’s just confusing to whom I am talking to at the moment.” I chuckle at that.
“Currently, it is Admiral. In fact, for all military, Admiral is appropriate always. Degurgis, for you, I am imparting the utmost trust. As a Marine, you are being field promoted to Lieutenant and put in charge of Security Operations. In the future, when our forces are adequate, you will be offered command of the Imperial Marines, should your service warrant. Do you accept this appointment and promotion?”
“How restricted are the maintenance and fabrication bays?” DeGurgis asks. A woman of passion, I appreciate that.
“They are subject to scheduling with the Maintenance officer.” I nod over to Camacho, “Priority given to Navy official tasking, then as to the priorities of the Maintenance Officer.”
The two women glare at eachother and then smile. Surprisingly a handshake and a hug erupt from that.
“I accept Admiral. I will need a security EVA yes?” I mean, she’s white, but is she eastern Europe white? Oh Andromeda, there’s no way.
“Do you, perchance know Ivanka Baiul?”
Her face is ashen and pale and before she can lie to me, I respond. “We’re in contact with the Vladi Valkyries, and Ivanka is a friend of mine. Don’t worry, we have multinational connections.”
DeGurgis seems embarrassed and snaps to attention before dismissing herself. Camacho smirks and thanks me for an interesting work environment before disappearing to the barracks of the moon base.