Captain Edwards
09:37 CST
November 2, 2030
The Chaos Reckoning
45,000 feet above Wichita, KS
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I sat back in my captain’s chair, staring down at my command console, rereading the new orders blinking on the screen. We were supposed to be en route to Killeen, Texas, to link up with the Crescent Moon for a review of the New Mexico and Arizona blockade. Now, however, I was looking at the strangest orders I’d ever received in my career. With a sigh, I looked up at my communications officer.
“Lieutenant Bryer, could you double-check that these orders actually came from the Crescent Moon?”
She gave me a slight smirk, clearly amused by my disbelief. “Sir, I’ve triple-checked. They’re straight from the Crescent Moon.”
I ran a hand over my face. “Call the General—I need some clarification on this.”
“Aye, sir,” she replied crisply, and moments later, General Zaraki’s face filled the main view screen. He looked downright exhausted—he was only twenty-three, but he looked as if he’d aged a lifetime already. No doubt, my crew and I had contributed our fair share to that.
“What can I do for you, Chaos Reckoning?” he asked, his tone flat and unmistakably irritated. “I’m a bit pressed for time.”
“Sir, just wanted to verify the orders you sent were… well, correct,” I said, jumping right to it.
He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. “Yes, Captain Edwards, those orders are correct.” His exasperation seeped through the screen. “Anything else?”
“No, sir,” I replied, but he’d already cut the connection. Letting out a deep breath, I looked over at my crew.
“All ahead stop!” I commanded.
“Aye, all ahead stop!” echoed my helmsman, swiftly following the order.
“Ship-wide briefing in the hangar bay in fifteen minutes,” I announced, then left the bridge and headed for my office.
Entering, I found Ashley fast asleep in the chair opposite my desk, her boots propped up on the table. If it had been anyone else, I’d have torn into them for lounging in my office. But Chief Master Sergeant Ashley Helsing was my partner in every sense except legally binding titles, and I knew she needed the rest. Her hand rested on the slight bulge of her stomach; our child was barely starting to show, but the first trimester had been rough on her.
I slid into my chair and pulled up the orders to print a hard copy, knowing damn well this would be good for a laugh. The printer whirred to life, and the noise jolted Ashley awake. Her boots clunked to the floor with a thud.
“Enjoy your nap?” I asked, a grin tugging at the corner of my mouth.
“Could’ve been better,” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. “Junior here decided last night was prime time for my stomach to go rogue. I’m exhausted.”
I chuckled. “It’s alright. Raven seems to have everything under control.”
She shot me a glare. “She’d better. After catching her and Ray using my office as their personal den of iniquity last week, I haven’t been able to step foot back in there.”
I rolled my eyes. Those two were practically rabbits. To be fair, Ashley’s office was one of the few truly private spots on the ship, aside from my own quarters. After the Salt Lake battle, Raven and Ray had been on edge, and I’d made the mistake of mentioning her office as a good escape spot. I hadn’t counted on Ashley showing up. Normally, she preferred working from my office or our quarters.
“I can’t exactly punish them for it,” I said with a shrug. “They’re a mated pair, the door was locked, and you’re the only one with the key.”
Ashley huffed, crossing her arms. “Don’t remind me. They’re just lucky you suggested the office, or I’d have skinned them alive.”
Knowing her, that wasn’t an empty threat. As a Ranger and special forces, she could make good on it. I smirked. “If I’d known you’d stashed my birthday present in there, I’d have warned you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled, rolling her eyes but clearly amused. “That’s beside the point. I trained Raven to be the best—she’d better be able to handle the 152nd STS.”
Ashley stood up and stretched, while the printer finished churning out the orders. I grabbed the freshly printed papers and handed them to her, watching her expression as she scanned the content. I reached into the mini-fridge under my desk, pulled out two bottles of water, and placed one on the desk for her. She took it absentmindedly, twisting the cap off as she continued reading—until she hit the punch line.
“Potatoes?!” she shrieked, sending a spray of water into the air.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
I wiped my face with a sigh. “Potatoes,” I repeated, keeping my voice calm but deadpan.
“The General has lost his mind! He wants us to haul potatoes for this event?”
“Yep,” I replied.
“This is a stealth dreadnought warship, and he wants us to use it to transport potatoes? Where are we even supposed to get that many potatoes?”
Just then, the printer whirred again, spitting out another sheet of paper. I turned, eyeing the machine suspiciously as it finished printing. Picking up the document, I read it over. It was a direct response to Ashley’s question: Potato shipment located at Costco Wholesale, Duluth, Minnesota.
I narrowed my eyes at the page, trying to make sense of it. Duluth? Surely there were potatoes closer than that. I handed the paper to Ashley, who took one look and laughed.
“Someone’s got a sense of humor,” she chuckled. “Why the hell are we going all the way to Minnesota?”
“It’s right on Lake Superior. It’ll be freezing,” I said, feeling the irritation creep in.
That was when a familiar face appeared on my console screen, making me nearly jump out of my chair. Scuzball sat there, perched on his haunches, his eyes locked on me as if he were physically in the room.
“Unfortunately, given the last-minute nature of this event, this is the only location with the quantity of potatoes we need,” Scuzball said, his tone somehow both businesslike and dripping with mischief. “Payment has already been arranged. All you need to do is pick them up.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Right… So, the General knows about this massive detour?”
Scuzball’s digital face didn’t waver. “You’re more than welcome to call him again and ask, but you saw how eager he was to chat the first time.”
I gnawed on my inner cheek, mulling it over. Scuzball had a point—the General was clearly at his wit’s end. If this was the only available stash of spuds, then it looked like our mission was now a grand potato run.
“Thanks, Scuzball. We’ll head that way within the hour.”
He gave me a wide Cheshire grin. “I’ll inform the General. Safe travels.”
When the screen went blank, I glanced over at Ashley, who was staring at it, eyebrows raised. “This should be… interesting.”
“Let’s just hope the weather holds up,” she replied, still looking suspiciously at the console.
With that, I got up and headed out of my office, Ashley right on my heels. As we moved toward the hangar bay, a few crew members stopped to ask what was going on—understandably curious since we’d just halted mid-course. I reassured them that everything was fine, but to meet in the hangar bay for a full briefing.
As we entered the upper deck of the hangar bay, I spotted everyone gathering into formation. The 152nd and 254th were already lined up, patiently at parade rest, with Alpha Balfour and Major Skitchatory standing front and center. Six years ago, if someone had told me I’d be commanding an airship loaded with werewolf infantry and vampiric hybrids, I’d have laughed them out of the room. But here I was, leading a pack of werewolves and a vampiric air wing in the hangar bay of one of the most advanced warships in the skies. And, as if that wasn’t enough, my partner was the last surviving member of a legendary family known for hunting monsters.
If there was a god out there, he was definitely having a laugh at my expense. I glanced over at Ashley, who was beaming with pride as she looked down at the 152nd. That unit had become her family, and she’d poured every ounce of herself into training them. The 254th was newer to the Chaos Reckoning, but their alpha was a no-nonsense leader. I’d met him before the Second Twilight Winter in Seoul, Korea, at an International Skyboarding Association competition with the General and his wife.
“You know, it just hit me,” I muttered to Ashley. “The sheer irony of all this.”
She tilted her head, amused. “And what irony is that?”
“I’ve got a Helsing standing by my side, and I’m commanding a mix of humans, werewolves, and vampire hybrids,” I chuckled, unable to hide the grin spreading across my face.
She chuckled, taking in the sight as the last few stragglers fell into formation. “Fate works in mysterious ways,” she said, amused.
“Agreed,” I replied, nodding for her to begin the assembly.
“Chaos Reckoning!” she barked, her voice ringing through the hangar bay as the unit leaders echoed her call. “Attention!”
With a unified snap, the crew shifted from parade rest to attention. Ashley stepped aside, giving me room at the railing to address the formation below.
“As of zero-nine-thirty, we’ve been reassigned to a new mission,” I announced, letting my words hang in the air.
“This directive comes straight from the President of the Free States,” I continued, pausing for dramatic effect as I began pacing along the upper catwalk. I saw a few curious glances below, the anticipation tangible.
“I know what you’re all wondering,” I said, keeping the suspense alive. “Hearing that this is a Presidential order, you’re asking yourselves what could be so important as to require our expertise.” I dragged out the words, glancing at Ashley, who was doing her best to contain a laugh.
“This mission requires the full focus of the Chaos Reckoning. It’s a three-part assignment, each step vital to the success of the entire operation. I need every one of you at your best,” I declared, stopping to face the assembly head-on.
I cracked a smile, ready to drop the punchline. “The first part of our mission is… Operation SpudNik.”
A few whispered exchanges broke out, the crew trying to process the name. I let them stew for a moment before continuing.
“We’re to head to Costco in Duluth, Minnesota, to pick up a very special load…” I paused, a wide grin spreading across my face. “Of potatoes.”
Laughter erupted across the hangar bay as the crew tried to wrap their heads around the absurdity of it. I let the moment settle, smiling as they regained composure.
“As absurd as this sounds, only the Chaos Reckoning can handle this mission,” I continued with a mock seriousness. “We shall swoop in, secure those devious spuds, and ensure their safe delivery to Knoxville, Tennessee, for the President’s Thanksgiving Celebration.” I glanced over, catching Ashley stifling laughter as I detailed this “high-stakes” assignment.
“Once we arrive in Knoxville, we’ll be participating in a National Pass and Review before the President, the citizens, and a healthy dose of media coverage. That’s the second part of our mission. I expect every dress uniform to be immaculate for this,” I added, smirking as I heard a collective groan ripple through the crew.
“And finally,” I said, wrapping up, “after the review, we’ll be attending an award ceremony. Once that’s over, the third and final part of the mission: enjoying the Thanksgiving celebration.”
I paused to let the crew absorb it all before giving the order. “At ease.”
The formation shifted, relaxing slightly as I stepped back. “Any questions?” I asked, bracing for the inevitable.
Major Skitchatory’s hand shot up instantly.
“Yes, Major?” I asked, already grinning.
“Is this gonna be a stand-up fight, sir, or another spud hunt?” she deadpanned.
Laughter broke out across the hangar bay, with Ashley doubling over and several crew members joining in. I struggled to keep my composure, but the absurdity was too much.
“It’s lookin’ like a spud hunt, Skitchatory!” I announced, dismissing the crew. “You’re all dismissed!”
As I turned to leave the hangar bay, Ashley fell in beside me, snickering all the way down the corridor.