Chapter 21

Sub-Admiral Alexander Hardt /// Alliance Logistical and Strategic Development Suite

He read the email with disbelief. This was his third time re-reading the “A.I.”’s plea, or excuse he couldn't decide which, for his brother. He sighed through his nostrils, deciding that if it was true he could always figure it out later. Closing his screen, he leaned back into his chair, his aging back shooting warm relief as the tension on his spine was temporarily removed. His now gray hair slicked back against his head, in a military short cut, his tan skin matched a similarly dark tone to his adorned dress blues, buttons undone showing a bright white button down and black tie hiding underneath. While not disheveled there was clear wear and creasing on his uniform. Thankfully that was all downplayed by the growing bags under his olive green eyes, and wrinkled tired looking face. He was still in shape but these days his figure was off put by his fatigue. Thankfully his worst enemy was the mountain of paperwork that he had to go through regularly. He rung his hands working out his joints stretching the tendons underneath, he took a moment to breathe and try to calm down, as a knock rang out from his door.

“Enter.” he shouted loud enough to be heard outside.

Two of his staff entered the room, Cpl. DiMassio, and SSgt Burns. Both officers presented well as they entered, although the sharp eyes of Burns flashed on the admirals uniform violations, he was at least well enough to keep it to himself. “Sir.” they both said as they entered

“At Ease. so what brings you two in?” The Sub-Admiral said with a quick salute. Seeing both officers relax slightly from the military rigidness.

“Well sir we have the results of the new flight school candidates… it's not looking good.” Cpl DiMassio admitted.

“Let me guess 10%?” Admiral Hardt said, feeling a pounding feeling in his head.

“... 8 sir” DiMassio said.

“8?!?”

“Yessir” a heartbeat passed as the admiral processed the information, DiMassio seemed to be getting ready to take a verbal beating, but that wasn't Alexanders style.

“Alright i'm assuming they didn't all just fail at the first test, so what seemed to trip them up the most?” the Admiral asked vexed

“Well sir” Burns started “the two largest failure points were the Rocket Cook Off, and the Boomerang Harpoon” Burns continued siting the two most dangerous maneuvers in zero G

“I… see, im not surprised they failed the rocket cook off. To be honest im still not sure how the old vets can just “feel” their way through that… but the Harpoon really?” The admiral still in disbelief, these two maneuvers where tantamount fundamentals to building a functioning fleet structure in zero g. The Rocket Cook Off was their Atmospheric to Orbital “stealth” launch, while it harbors its foundations in the battles of Earthfall, its application has become widespread. The concept was simple, fire a rocket able to punch through atmo at a ship in orbit, at the same time launch a small gunboat, or armored troop dropship behind said rocket. While it was basically suicidal for anyone untrained to attempt it, it has become a critical component of the Alliance Space OpAlt allowing personal or armamens to be transferred to or off world without being detected has made a huge difference.

The second maneuver the Boomerang Harpoon, where if you cant land safely on a ship or station but can get close enough to bypass any defensive shielding to fire a Magnetic Harpoon at the hull. Then latch on and ride the wave as the G forces of Zero frictional cable tension and velocity carry the pilot and crew around what would normally be bone liquidating forces. Once the harpoon slows you down you can pull your ship in and forcefully breach with a thermic lance. Again a maneuver harkening back to the orbital battles above earth, and yet this maneuver was still as critical today as it had been then. For many of the smaller habitats having only one normal entryway, or search and rescue maneuvers, this practice had been a mainstay.

The stark realization and the primary reason these flight exams were so critical, was that many of the older veteran pilots were either dead, dying or retiring soon. Training new pilots and making a course that covers these maneuvers had been Admiral Hardt’s working project for the past several years. So far no admiral assigned to the project had gotten over the 10% pass rate. Having staked any promotion on finding a way for non-aberrant humans to learn and succeed these and about a dozen other complex space flight combat maneuvers was Alexanders last assignment.

Even with the extended lifespan of humans these days he was approaching force retirement soon, and he wanted to spend it in leisure, rather than taking up some civilian post on a station running it like he ran his small fleet section. So if he wanted that leisure he wanted to retire as a full fledged admiral, and he gambled that on these new form of learning programs.

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“Sir, if i may, it might be useful to find an aberrant with pilot mutatio…” DiMassio started walking into a minefield without realizing it

“Absolutely not Cpl, under NO circumstance, are you to start looking into Aberrants High command made it very clear NO breaching the Station Conventions, if they even have an itch of us breaking them they'll demote me, and court martial everyone else. Happened to Adnerson, Happened to Montoya, won't be happening to me.” the Admiral said rising from his chair with force, the rush of blood to his head making him swoon for a moment before regaining his composure and continuing his tirade.

Taking looks from both DiMassio and Burns as he rose, neither dared argue back. With another heavy sigh calming himself down “sorry for yelling, that was uncouth. Do either of you have LEGAL ideas?”

Burns looked at DiMassio before speaking up “i have one although i'm not exactly sure how legal it is”

Alexander looked at Burns expectantly, and motioned for him to continue, as he lowered himself back into his seat.

“We could hire convicted pirates, they could play the role of OpFor in training, in addition while not exactly sanitary, next to Aberrants pirates have the most Zero G experience. Offer them a reduced sentence and stack them with so many position data modules that even if they did run they would get caught before we could even warn them.” Burns finished his suggestion with vigor and charisma, both good and dangerous qualities in bureaucracy

The admiral started to think through this proposal, he could obviously see a number of holes, but as a concept idea it wasn't terrible. Looking back to Burns “do a written proposal and write in all the fall back and intended securities. We’ll look it over next week, as for our current graduating class, send the flunk outs back through again. We can't afford not having small ship pilots right now.” he said, turning to look at DiMassio as he finished his delegations. “If there is nothing else between you two, I'm going to head home.” the Admiral said, looking at the two staffers patiently. After a moment with no response he saluted and said “dismissed.”

The two officers left his office in a hurry, and Alexander took a moment to pack up his briefcase with all the required materials. He checked his phone and called a driver to take him home. Locking up his office he said goodnight to those few staffers still working hard and made his way through strategic command. Out towards the parking lot and his awaiting car. As he crossed the parking lot however he saw one more headache approaching from the other side, another sub admiral, and a real grade A prick. Koval. He strode with a certain swagger that made Alexander reminiscent of card hustlers getting ready to shark a new player.

“Yo Alex, hold up” Koval said just loud enough to cause his voice to travel

Koval started jogging to try to catch up to Alexander before he could pack his things away, and sadly he succeeded. “Hey Al, i was talking to you”

“I know Koval, but we have protocols for a reason, and these informal… meetings of yours always cause more headaches than their worth.” Alexander said trying desperately to avoid this conversation

“I hear you, and ill submit one tomorrow i promise, but i was wondering if you could acquisition some refurbished Super Bee Hind-3’s i have an operation thats live right now, but also significantly over budget at this point.” Koval said with the same swagger that a con artist says to their mark.

Alexander, having dealt with Koval since he was a Lt. knew his game. He would sweep in and make some request, and if he didn't get what he was looking for from you on the first pass, he would go around find out whatever you were working on, squeeze someone who owed him a favor to put a hold on what you were working on, then get what he wants anyways. There was barely anyone in the alliance who wasn't bound to owing Koval something, that said he was exceptional with his work, a human bloodhound, and it was that combination of working people and finding information that made him effectively untouchable. Knowing all this Alexander still had to do his part of this little song and dance. “ well i don't know Koval, thats a big ask, my last class only had an 8% pass rate, so my budgets a bit tight right now too.”

“No its not, just looked a the budget the other day you've got some room.”

“Had room, now i have to recycle all the drop outs to try to get more to pass, so thats another 6 months of courses, that puts me in a really bad position, and now i need justice approval to get some pirates to act as OpFor for the trainees, so im going to have to tag them. Its just a whole lot of shit.”

“Well why didn't you say so, my cousin works over at justice so i know the department of detentions intimately actually i think i know exactly who i could talk too.” Koval and his “cousins” always knew who you needed.

At this point the car driver rolls down the window and shouts to alexander “excuse me sir, are you going to be much longer?”

Looking at Koval Alexander said “care to take a ride Koval, im in a rush its family night.”

Koval looks at the driver like he was about to pull him out of the car and stab him. Before looking back to Alexander “no, cant tonight. Have to run an op later. Ill stop by tomorrow around 10?”

“That works, see you then Koval” Alexander said, reaching out and shaking Kovals hand.

Getting into his ride, Alexander put his head back, as Koval walked back out into the ever growing night. Looking to his driver “take me home, no stops please.”

The drive home was as always pleasant enough for a relatively short trip with luminated street lights showing the whole way. Traffic was persistent but not congestive. Most importantly though, he could look up at the maelstrom above him and every now and then see the eye of a storm pass overhead showing the twinkling stars hiding behind the veil of clouds.

Before he knew it he was home, stepping out his house a two story beige Gabled roof house, while its architecture and design were calls to homes people had back on earth it had many modern additions to increase efficiency or space.

As he stepped out onto his “lawn he took a few strides forward before a small 9 year old little boy with olive skin and brown eyes ran out yelling “grandpa!!!!”

Alexander smiled, atleast most of his family wasnt fucked up.