It’s hard to believe that the fleet is being redistributed before the conflict is over. Sure, she said that the Herrat fleet has been subdued, but can we really be sure?
“Alaris, load remaining torpedo tubes. And remain on station until the Galilei arrives.” While I can’t actively countermand her orders, I can maintain our safety.
“Commodore, we have been ordered to the Sol system. You have until her communique with the Herrat is over or 15 minutes is over. After that, we are to follow orders as given.”
“You have no reason to believe she has resolved this conflict to a sustainable level!”
“Commodore, our job is to obey all sensible orders. The Empress believes she has adequately resolved this skirmish, and wants to prepare for a conflict she is predicting. There is every reason to believe Earth is in danger despite this skirmish’s result.”
And I immediately know that I cannot trust this ship to follow my orders. Minutes go by as I attempt to shuffle these events into my favor, but the advantage seems to escape me for now.
“The Admiral has concluded her conversation with the Herrat, you have ten minutes to come to a command conclusion.” The damn ship is definitely in that woman’s pocket. How can they not see the danger of such ignorance?
The fate of Humanity does not belong in the hands of the young, and since the fleet seems to be in the throes of the child-empress’ grip, I suppose I need to relinquish my command and instigate from the ground. A grass roots movement after a populace has been shaken by war has historically been fruitful.
While lost in thought, a voice I never wanted to hear again bothers my headset.
“Commodore, you decision is due, I have already forwarded Alaris’ recommendation.” Commander Tessa Astoria chimes in.
“Commander, your input is not required. Alaris, I recommend Commander Royce for command of Alaris.”
“Noted Commodore. I have notified the Admiral of your recommendation and your intention to relinquish command.”
“Belay that, Alaris. I have no intention to relinquish command of the fleet, just that Alaris should have its own captain with a separate scene commander.”
“Communique revised Commodore. Commanders Royce and Astoria, report to the Admiral’s quarters. We have been ordered to return to Astorian space, enroute to Sol as per the Admiral’s orders. Initialize warp systems for transmission to Astorian customs point.”
The bridge crew looks at me, waiting for me to confirm the ship’s “suggestion”. I nod. “Initialize the systems, warp at any sign of danger, but otherwise hold until I give the order.”
\Is this wise Commodore?\
/Alaris, I’m in command of this fleet while in theater, until I am told otherwise./
\We were just ordered to report to three separate areas of responsibility, Ma’am.\
->/Admiral, DE CDRE Casey. Alaris and I are interpreting your orders, and the command structure of the fleet differently, please advise./<-
->/I have things I need to tend to when the Galilei gets here, but sure, we can do this now. Report to my quarters on Alaris with the two commanders and I’ll be along in ten minutes or so./<-
I click my response in affirmative and spend the remaining time in my stateroom meditating to calm myself. Blowing up in front of an officer appointed over me is a terrible plan, even if she’s half my age or less. What’s more, she’s the law in the Empire and she has the power and authority to kill me for no particular reason. I don’t see that any of my actions would warrant such an act, but the Admiral has often been described as volatile.
“Commodore, the Admiral’s fighter just requested to come aboard. It’s time for the meeting in the Admiral’s quarters.”
I nod, knowing that she can see my mannerisms as I told her early that I would like her to sense all normal human responses in a conversation when it comes to talking with me.
Seeing no reason to change clothes, I rise, pat my hair to ensure that it is not too unruly and exit my stateroom toward it’s mirror on the other side of the bridge. From the designs that I saw, this ship was designed to be in command of a fleet, as the “Admiral’s Quarters” contain an impressive command and control display meant to collate views and data from multiple vantages. Perhaps when the Navy grows, it would be a Commodore’s suite, or some such fleet commander’s rank.
The door opens automatically when I approach it, and Commanders Royce and Astoria rise and snap to attention. “At ease, take your seats.” I reply to the action. Good to see that they’re both being respectful.
“It makes sense that Alaris would recommend you. Cut from the same cloth and all that.”
“It helps that I speak their transmission language and have skills to manage multiple data streams. But the nomination is an honor, none the less.”
I can’t help but stiffen at the arrogance in her response. An AI galivanting as a crew member. Before I can turn and tell her what I think about her humility, she shouts.
“Attention on Deck!”
Despite myself, I snap to attention before turning to give the Commander a piece of my mind. That is until I see Admiral Astoria, standing in the middle of the room.
“At ease folks. Anyone want a drink?” She manifests a small pottle of swirly liquid and a lager decanter of amber liquid.
“Uh, if that’s whiskey, Admiral, I’ll take a dram.” She snorts at that.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“Now that’s a unit of measure I haven’t heard of in a while. You got it Royce.” She manifests another tumbler and hands him what looks like a finger and a half of the liquid.
The easygoing manner that she’s introducing is an attempt to lead the pain with a little bit of indulgence. Though a common tactic, I wonder what she may bring up to necessitate it. She looks at me for what I may want and I wave her off.
“In the Nature of propriety, I’ll discuss the Commander’s reasons for being here first.” He turns to Royce first. “You’ve been nominated by Commodore Casey for Command, do you desire this opportunity?”
“I do.” He tips his drink at me to acknowledge his thanks before turning back toward the Admiral.
“And you’ve been nominated by Imperial Ship Alaris for command, do you desire this opportunity?”
“I do.” She doesn’t say anything else, but she refuses to look my way, to which I grit my teeth. The Admiral sighs.
“Now to the hard part. Commander Royce, you did not appreciably distinguish your self apart from doing your duty, an action that is still commendable under the circumstances. Commander Astoria, I have been told that you have distinguished yourself by discovering and implementing a method of repelling boarders that proved effective aboard both Alaris and Titania, saving the crews time, and possibly lives. However, your actions aboard Titania were in violation of an order by Commodore Casey to remain aboard Alaris.
“You self reported this action as a response to the order you defied would have cost additional lives had you obeyed. Is this correct?”
“Admiral, the details are . . . more involved, but the thrust of the argument is the same.” Time to see what kind of disgusting favoritism appears with the Admiral’s former AI.
“Alaris, as the computational expert in this room, what is the likelihood that the Commodore’s orders would have cost more lives had she obeyed them?”
“It is approximately 83% confidence that Commander Astoria’s actions saved at least one life, and a near certainty that she prevented additional property damage aboard Titania. Before your next possible train of thought is presented, there are too many variables top determine what would have happened if Commander Astoria were allowed to assist Titania earlier in the evolution.”
“Than you Alaris.” She sighs and shakes her head. “Commander Astoria, you have disobeyed a direct order while at war in a combat zone. Though the order you disobeyed may have cost additional life if followed, it was not unlawful in the eyes of the Navy. Due to your distinguished actions, and the high risk of the order disobeyed, you will not be dismissed from Naval service.
I will be placing you under censure and demoting you for a probationary period of one year. During such time you will be ineligible for command, promotion, or leading a project—for at least one year--without at least one officer appointed above you to reinforce that your decisions are for the benefit of the Navy and the Empire. Do you accept this summary judgement?”
“Admiral,” Alaris interjects. “It should be noted that under the laws under final review before the Consul of War and Armed Forces, that she has the right to a trial before her peers.”
“It’s alright, Alaris, I accept the summary judgement.”
“Very well, Lieutenant Commander, it has been recorded. Commander Royce, you are being installed as the CO of the Alaris, and as such are eligible for the positional promotion of Captain. Do you wish to acknowledge this appointment.”
“With excitement, Admiral.” She shakes her head with a smile. To my surprise, she appointed Royce as Captain, he beams at me in response.
“One additional wrench folks. Captain Royce, you can appoint anyone on Alaris, of lesser rank, as your XO. Pending their acceptance, who would it be?”
“Astoria without question.”
“What?!”, “What?”, and “Oh?” come from Astoria, me and the Admiral respectively.
“She’s Alaris’ choice, knowledgeable and she’ll never act against the Empire’s interest. Who else would I pick?”
“You would pick your competition for XO? What kind of idiot . . “
“Enough!” The Admiral pulses her aura. “This administrative action is not under your purview, Commodore.” She turns to the machine and asks. “you both have time to consider these changes, but only so long as it takes to dock with the orbital station around Astoria. You both are excused while I talk to Commodore Casey.”
Both of them stood and Royce took his whiskey with him. The small woman with an enormously forceful aura paced a few moments while considering another drink. This time I decide I would take one myself. Gin and tonic, classic and biting.
“You here to tell me what I did wrong? Dress me down and demote me too? That’s not legal by the way.”
She snorts at my statement. “It wasn’t legal under U.S. Navy Doctrine. Is under mine. As Alaris decided to ask for additional rights for Tessa, I chose to use the same document to issue punishment. I am not going to talk to you about all of that though. You said that there was a disagreement between you and Alaris, and I’m here to set that straight. I am reassigning you. You performed your role as theater commander, and now, I would leave command to those on location in each system. Thoughts?”
She’s not just issuing edicts? That’s an interesting change. “I don’t desire shore commands or acting as a glorified police officer.”
“And I no longer trust you to act without oversight, especially not with my most advanced ship in the Sol system. Alaris has convinced me that your actions were not tantamount to treason, and that when she saved you from disobeying an order, you were only concerned for the fleet’s safety. Which I think is bullshit since you failed to retreat after I disabled the Herrati ships.
“However, as getting definitive proof would violate some agreements that I assured my friends I would not abuse frivolously, I am going to offer you 6 months of severance, with the requirement of reporting one day out of each month to Nav Admin for temporary duty. You will have that time to move out of government housing and get your affairs in order. You will not be eligible for government employ in the future.”
“You’re firing me?! In previous wars, I would have gotten a medal!”
“Yes, and I find getting medals for managing other people’s achievements particularly abhorrent. Congratulations on actively stifling people from controlling a situation to get a better result by the way. If you chose to not accept the severance, allowing a personal matter to affect you command, resulting in loss of life will become an issue.”
“I would accuse you of blackmail, but what would come of it?”
“Casey, I allow organized crime for the benefit of society, what do you think would happen? I mostly just want you to take the severance, set yourself up on the far side of Astoria, or further, and never hear from you again. That look on your face tells me that my wants are immaterial, but your response is up to you. Most roads lead to us dropping you off on Astoria.”
She stares at my shoulder with sad eyes waiting for me to respond. What do I want to do? I want to shove her offer down her damned throat and take her fleet from her. Would that make me a pirate?
“I hate that I need to be here. I’d rather be preparing the cats to be imprisoned on a whole planet, but I have you to deal with and Astoria is more important than everything else to me.”
“Yet, your favoritism is rampant.” She laughs quite a bit more than I expected.
“Lady, I was specifically told that making you Commodore was a bad idea. I was also told that you were the best person for the job.”
Letting that hit me was a mixed experience. I’m the best, but also the worst? How is that even possible.
“I get it now, but I had to allow your hubris and attitude to get in the way before I found out if it would get my people killed. It did, and now I want to drag you behind my shuttle. No matter what your choice though, your time in combat is done. “ She gets up and drains her drink. “as you requested my appearance, I will address the crew.”
“Crew of the Alaris, I would have you congratulate Captain Royce for his appointment as the CO of IS Alaris. He is considering his XO options, but until then, watch who you bad-mouth suckers.” She chuckles into the mic. “On a similar note, Commodore Casey is moving on to brighter things and her plans should be discussed with her. I look forward to saving with you all for my remaining millennia.”
The last statement alone is cause or pause: Remaining Millenia?!?